Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-07-29
Mngne.ical Experiments.

The natural magnet, or loadsone, is found
in The earth, generally in iron mines, in hard
and br!t,e slate, and for The most part, more
vigorous in proportion the degree OF hardness.
Artificial magnets, which mus, be made of har.
der or highly tempered steel, are now generally
used in preference TO the natural magnet; not
only, as they may be procured with greater ease,
but because they are far superior TO the natural
magnet in strength, communicate the magnetic
virlue more powerfully, aud may be varied in
their form more easily. In making artihcial
magnets, care should be taken 10 apply the north
pole of the natural msgne, or magnets 10 that
extremity Of the steel which is required 10 be
made The south pole, and 10 apply the south
pole of the magnet 10 the opposite extremity Of
The piece of STEEL Very powerful magnets
may be formed by frs, constructing several
weak magnets, and then joining them together
TO form compound one.
The north o, south poles Of two magnets re-
pei each other but the north pole of one at
tracts the south pole Of an oiber The aitrac-
lion between he magnet and iron Is mutual,
for the non attracts the magnet as much as the
magnei attracts the iron ; since hey be piac-
ed on pieces Of wood, SO TO loai upon the
surface of the water, 1t will be found that The
T iron advances towards the magnet as well as
the magnet towards the iron or, II the IRON be
kept steady, then The magnet wnl move towards
ii. a* 81. '
Magnetic attraction will not be destroyed by
interposing obstacles between The magnet and
the iron If you lay small needle on piece
of paper and put magne, under Inc paper,
I ihe needle NAV be moved backwards and ior-
Yards and with piece Of glass or board the
effect will be the same. This property of the
magnet has afforded The means of several
| amusing decepiions small figure of a man
has been made 10 spell a persons name. The
hand, in which was piece OF iron, rested on
board, under which person, concealed from
view, with powerful magnet, contrived lo'ear-
( ry il from letier 10 letter, uniil The word was
made up. f,he figure of fish, with small
magnet concealed in its mouth, be thrown in'o
the water, and bailed hook be suspended near
| il, the magnet and iron by mu'uai attraction will
bring the fish TO the bar. 4- aa
/ If you lay hee' of paper, covered with iron
! iilings upon a table, wilha small magnet among
| them, aud then shake the table lille, at The
two ends of the poles, the PARTICLES of'ron Will
! form themselves into lines, little sideways,
which bend, and then form complete arches
reaching from some point In the northern hall
Of The magnet TO some other point in the south
ern half Ifyou shake some iron filings through
gauze sieve opon paper that covers bal
magnet, they will be arranged in beautiful
curves.
Soft iron is attracted by the magnet more for
| chilly than steel, but il is not capable OF pre-
serving the magnetic properly so long. ms
gradual addition of weight to a magne, Kept II
its proper situation, increases the magnetic pow
/ er, bu, heat weakens it, Bars of iron that have
stood long in perpendicular situation, are gen
eraly found 10 be magnelical; this circum
stance, ogerhers with the phenomena OF 'he
compass and the dipping needle. leaves no room
10 doubt but tha, The cause exists within the
earth. 1919