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Rolanda Francis
Tohatchi High School
Experiment Overview
Investigate the characteristics of liquid magnet (ferrofluid) at micro-gravity. The goal is to determine if liquid magnet is the ideal product to utilize to locate magnetic mineral.
Experiment Description
This mission will explore the unique shapes that will be created by the ferrofluid liquid magnet. The purpose of this study is to observe how ferrofluid behaves during the rocket's passage through Earth's magnetic field. Students will capture the ferrofluid behavior characteristics via video. For future studies, the ferrofluid may be used as a magnetic indicator for increasing the chances for locating magnetite crystals on other planets such as Mars.
Hypothesis
Observations will reveal that ferrofluid will form tiny cones and will eventually increase in size and become a "blob" at micro-gravity.
Analysis
Video recording will be made and analyzed to determine the change in shape of the ferrofluid magnet. If the hypothesis is correct, there will be changes in the ferrofluid during 1) ascent and the rocket traveling through the magnetosphere, 2) a "blob" of fluid during micro-gravity, and 3) descent of the rocket traveling through the magnetosphere.
