K'NEX Magnetic Pendulum
This K'NEX Magnetic Pendulum swings in a weird way!
View video
It can be built using:
1. A K'NEX Base kit
2. 30cm (1ft) of string…
…plus:
2. Two small but powerful bar magnets (we used magnets from a Geomag set, which are about 26mm/1 inch long)
First, assemble the five 3D connectors shown in the photo opposite.
Please visit Handy Hint A4 if you need help to do this.
Add a green rod to the double-blue connector as shown in the photo.
Note it is easiest to take the connector apart to add the green rod.
…add two orange connectors side-on to the central blue rod, and also add a purple clip side-on to another blue rod, as shown.
Trap one of the magnets upright in the assembly.
You may need help to do this if your fingers are not strong enough.
…and trap the second magnet upright, locked in place by a white rod.
You may need help to do this if your fingers are not strong enough.
Then attach a purple clip to each end of a piece of string, so that the clips are about 130mm/5.1 inches apart when the string is stretched out…
…and the other end at the top of the frame.
You have now completed the model. However, please note:
1. The two magnets should repel each other (ie push each other apart) when the pendulum is swung. If they attract each other, and try to join together, you should turn the magnet in the lower magnet assembly the other way up.
2. The ends of the magnets should be about 2mm/0.1inch apart. You may need to adjust the length of the string to achieve this, particularly if you have used bar magnets with a different length to ours.
Testing
To test your magnetic pendulum, pull the upper magnet assembly to the edge of the frame, and let go.
The pendulum will swing and spin in an unpredictable (weird!) way, as the magnets keep repelling each other.
Try swinging the pendulum from different distances and at different angles from the centre, to see what happens.
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