Opening Ferrofluid
Ferrofluid: magnetic liquid that rises into spikes
Ferrofluid is a liquid full of tiny magnetic particles. Bring a magnet near and it stands up in sharp, shiny spikes. Here your finger is the magnet.
How to play
- Touch and hold to pull the fluid up into spikes.
- Move slowly and the spikes follow your finger.
- Let go and the fluid settles back into a smooth pool.
- Choose the Porcelain dish, Brass dish or Night glass.
Questions
- What is ferrofluid?
- A real liquid: magnetic nanoparticles in oil, first made at NASA in the 1960s. In a strong magnetic field its surface breaks into spikes, called the Rosensweig instability.
- Is Ferrofluid free?
- Yes. Ferrofluid is free to play in your browser, with no ads, no sign-up and nothing to buy.
- Does Ferrofluid work on a phone?
- Yes. It works with touch on phones and tablets and with a mouse or trackpad on a computer, in any recent browser with WebGL 2.