Magnetic energy converts into kinetic energy over and over again in this high velocity, marble-launching series of experiments with magnetic accelerators. Watch Magnetic Games set up a series of tracks with powerful neodymium magnets lined up on either side. Their configurations send the steel balls flying and halting, even while hanging almost upside down. From this Study.com Science Fair project:

Imagine getting on a roller coaster. It’s one of the fastest ones in the park and accelerates you up to 100 miles per hour! A little nervous, you look around and notice there’s no enormous hill in front of you. How will you gather the momentum to reach such great speeds if you start from a flat surface? The answer is a magnetic linear accelerator.

Magnetic linear accelerators rely on the strength of opposing magnetic fields to propel objects forward at great speeds.

In the case of this type of roller coaster, magnets on the ground and on the outside of the cars repel each other, causing the cars to zoom forward along the track… Instead of using gravitational potential energy stored in the height of the first hill, these coasters use the force generated by magnets for their source of kinetic energy.

Magnetic Games specializes in handling magnets so strong that they require a specially-built wooden tool to help separate them. Please note these neodymium magnet hazards to help practice safe and smart science.

Magnetic accelerator demonstrations

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