1 of 10
A magnet will stick to aluminum foil.
2 of 10
With magnets, unlike poles repel, like poles attract.
ANSWER: It's the exact opposite. It's the exact opposite.
3 of 10
A magnet will stick to a typical soda can.
ANSWER: Not if it's aluminum. Not if it's aluminum.
4 of 10
A magnet will stick to a rare 1943 copper WWII penny.
ANSWER: After 1985, Canada started using copper instead of real nickel. (Real nickel is ferrous and magnetic. Most US coins are made from copper.) After 1985, Canada started using copper instead of real nickel. (Real nickel is ferrous and magnetic. Most US coins are made from copper.)
ANSWER: A magnet won't stick to copper. There were some mint errors during WWII, and some pennies came out copper in 1943. But these days, most copper pennies with the date 1943 are fake. People plating the silver penny with copper, trying to sell it for a, er, mint. The easiest way to tell if a 1943 copper cent is merely a copper-plated steel penny (a fake) is to test it with a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the penny, it's made of steel, which has been dipped or plated in copper. Such a penny is worth about 15 cents as a novelty item. A magnet won't stick to copper. There were some mint errors during WWII, and some pennies came out copper in 1943. But these days, most copper pennies with the date 1943 are fake. People plating the silver penny with copper, trying to sell it for a, er, mint. The easiest way to tell if a 1943 copper cent is merely a copper-plated steel penny (a fake) is to test it with a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the penny, it's made of steel, which has been dipped or plated in copper. Such a penny is worth about 15 cents as a novelty item.
5 of 10
A magnet will stick to a 1943 silver colored WWII penny.
ANSWER: During 1943 our country was at war and many natural resources were in short supply and needed as a priority for the war effort. Copper was such an item and necessary to manufacture shell casings for the war. As a result for one year only, 1943, most pennies issued were made of steel, then zinc plated. During 1943 our country was at war and many natural resources were in short supply and needed as a priority for the war effort. Copper was such an item and necessary to manufacture shell casings for the war. As a result for one year only, 1943, most pennies issued were made of steel, then zinc plated.
6 of 10
A magnet will stick to a 400-series stainless steel gas grill.
ANSWER: 400-series stainless actually contains a mixture of metals and isn’t as rust resistant as 300 series stainless. That’s why they always say when you’re buying a grill, bring a magnet. If it sticks, don’t buy it. (A magnet should not stick to 300-series stainless steel, nor most pure stainless steel.) 400-series stainless actually contains a mixture of metals and isn’t as rust resistant as 300 series stainless. That’s why they always say when you’re buying a grill, bring a magnet. If it sticks, don’t buy it. (A magnet should not stick to 300-series stainless steel, nor most pure stainless steel.)
7 of 10
Magnets are named after Macarius Magnes, a 6th century bishop who accidentally discovered the magnet.
ANSWER: The most popular legend accounting for the discovery of magnets is that of an elderly Cretan shepherd named Magnes. Legend has it that Magnes was herding his sheep in an area of Northern Greece called Magnesia, about 4,000 years ago. Suddenly both, the nails in his shoes and the metal tip of his staff became firmly stuck to the large, black rock on which he was standing. To find the source of attraction he dug up the Earth to find lodestones (load = lead or attract). Lodestones contain magnetite, a natural magnetic material Fe3O4. This type of rock was subsequently named magnetite, after either Magnesia or Magnes himself. The most popular legend accounting for the discovery of magnets is that of an elderly Cretan shepherd named Magnes. Legend has it that Magnes was herding his sheep in an area of Northern Greece called Magnesia, about 4,000 years ago. Suddenly both, the nails in his shoes and the metal tip of his staff became firmly stuck to the large, black rock on which he was standing. To find the source of attraction he dug up the Earth to find lodestones (load = lead or attract). Lodestones contain magnetite, a natural magnetic material Fe3O4. This type of rock was subsequently named magnetite, after either Magnesia or Magnes himself.
8 of 10
A magnet will stick to a typical brass key.
9 of 10
A magnet can erase a recording on a VHS tape.
ANSWER: Radio Shack used to sell a high-power electric magnet device that could zap the info off pretty much any kind of magnetic tape, like VHS Radio Shack used to sell a high-power electric magnet device that could zap the info off pretty much any kind of magnetic tape, like VHS
10 of 10
If a magnet is heated above a certain temperature, the electrons become randomized, and the metal loses all of its permanent magnetization.
ANSWER: This is called the Curie Point, discovered by Pierre Curie in 1895. It happens to iron at about 770C and to nickel at 358C. This is called the Curie Point, discovered by Pierre Curie in 1895. It happens to iron at about 770C and to nickel at 358C.
