An awesome physics experiment. Copper and Aluminum are non-magnetic metals which is what makes this so cool!

What you need for this:
1. Aluminum foil buy at any store or already in your pantry, or if you so choose a copper pipe even an aluminum heavy rod

2. A neodymium magnet (you can now get these much easier today and cheaper! Amazon or radio shack 5- 10 bucks!

Personal recommendation save your money and get the aluminum foil it works just as well as the more expensive copper pipe!

A simple demonstration on Lenz's Law which is (an electric current induced by a changing magnetic field will create its own magnetic field that opposes the original magnetic field) These opposing fields occupying the same space at the same time create two forces. The more current you generate, the greater the force.

An example of Lenz's law is take a copper pipe or even better and 30 times cheaper a simple box of aluminum foil (it's conductive but non-magnetic) and drop a piece of steel down the tube. The piece of steel will fall through quickly due to gravity and lack of induced current.

If you take the same copper pipe or aluminum foil tube and drop a Neodymium magnet
you will see with your own eyes the magnet falls very slowly almost defying gravity!. This is because the copper tube creates a magnetic field from the falling magnet. This magnetic field induces a current in the copper pipe or aluminum foil tube

The induced current in the copper pipe or aluminum foil tube creates its own magnetic field that fights the magnetic field that created it. So even though the tube is not magnetic in any way it will cause gravity to be resisted. Pretty amazing what science can do when you understand it! .
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