The same sort of a scheme employed in the Magnetic Diver may be used for producing a magnetic fish which will swim around and around a pan of water.
[Illustration: FIG. 191.—The Magnetic Fish.]
It consists of a small wooden fish having a magnetised sewing needle attached to the under side. The fish is placed in a bowl of water on a table having a drawer in which a pair of electro-magnets mounted on a rotating wooden arm may be placed so that they swing around directly underneath. A piece of strong twine wrapped around an empty spool and attached to the centre of the arm makes it possible to rotate the magnets by pulling on the string. When the magnets are connected to a battery they will exert a strong magnetic pull upon the needle fastened to the fish and if slowly rotated will cause the latter to follow slowly around the bowl.
A MAGNETIC CLOWN.
Small figures of men or animals cut out of sheet iron will perform many amusing acrobatic feats when under the influence of a magnet.
[Illustration: FIG. 192.—The Magnetic Clown.]
Such figures are easily cut out of an old tin cracker box with a pair of snips or strong shears. A realistic appearance may be secured with the aid of a little paint.
A tin clown having a sharply pointed hat, hands and feet will do all sorts of stunts when hanging from the poles of a horseshoe magnet. If several clowns are made they can be caused to hold hands, stand on each others heads, jump up in the air, etc.
AN ELECTRIC BREEZE.
If a sewing needle is connected to one of the discharge rods of a static machine and the point of the needle is presented to the flame of the candle while the machine is in operation, the flame will be repelled just as if a breeze or current of air were issuing from the needle. This is caused by the "brush" discharge which takes place whenever high voltage electricity has a chance to escape from a sharp point or edge. The brush discharge will be much more marked if the condensers or Leyden Jars are not connected to the discharge rods. The "electric breeze" can be felt if the point of the needle is brought near to the side of the face. It is necessary that the needle and the wire connecting it to the static machine be very carefully insulated from all surrounding objects which might dissipate the electricity before it has an opportunity to escape from the needle point.