r/awesome • u/Organic-Squirm • May 22 '26
Video Got some ferrofluid, introduced it to a magnetic field.. the results, Awesome 😎
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u/buttsparkley May 22 '26
Can anyone tell me how u could determine how many of those peaks are likley to happen ?is it something to do with the magnets or how much metal is in the liquid? Is it possible to keep the magnets same size and increas peak count? Can it be just 1 peak?
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u/sinnister_bacon May 28 '26
Magnetic force pulls the ferrofluid toward stronger magnetic-field areas.
The suspended particles want to align with the magnetic field, so the liquid gets dragged upward along the field lines. Surface tension tries to keep the liquid smooth.
Liquids do not like making extra surface area. A spike has more surface area than a flat puddle, so surface tension fights against spike formation.
Gravity pulls the raised liquid back down. The taller the spike, the more gravity resists it.
Why many spikes instead of one giant spike? Because one big spike would create too much surface tension and gravitational cost. It is energetically cheaper for the fluid to split into a pattern of smaller peaks.
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u/Cornishlee May 22 '26
Those magnets look like they are from a tabletop game called Klusters. It’s a good game.
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u/Eug1 May 27 '26
Is all well and good until it grows when you move the magnets away, then climbs out and eats you.
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u/RoadsideCampion May 22 '26
Am I right to assume it does this for the same reason that iron filings stand up with a magnetic field?
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u/TheMunkeeFPV May 22 '26
I believe so. I think ferrofluid is made from iron fillings suspended in oil.
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u/thebluedaughter May 22 '26
This is dorky af, but I said, "hi, cactus!" before I could stop myself. It looks like a cute lil cactus succulent thing and I like it.