15 + 42 points
Metal Detector by Voo
June 3rd, 2008 10:47 AM / Location: 44.94837,-93.28905
Blame my mother for this proof's lack of scientific perfection, for it is HER fault that I am not the proud owner of an "actual" metal detector. Not only did she always refuse to buy me one, she also was disdainful of anyone in possession of said equipment, calling them "a rip-off" and "pointless." It must have rubbed off on me, because as I embarked on this task today I found myself completely and totally WITHOUT any kind of formal metal detector.
Undaunted, I put my grad school education and silly imagination to work. What sort of thing could detect the presence of metal merely by being near it? Eureka, I almost said aloud within my empty-but-for-me apartment, that's it! Magnets!
I quickly made my way to our refrigerator and located the biggest, baddest magnet of them all. It's wand-shaped, so I decided to use it like a dowsing rod and slowly drag it near the many surfaces and items in my home, detecting the presence of metal and pursuing it hotly with this proof taking up the whole of my mind. I documented my process with photos I've posted below.
First, I encountered a Buddha mug. However, close inspection with my magnet wand proved this to be made of a non-metallic substance.
Next, the wand seemed drawn to a square of counter populated only by a small shiny object. It was a hair barrette, and the magnet wand snatched it up off the counter with quick force. Metal at last!
Finally, I tested 2 other items: a Gatorade bottle and a kitchen knife. Guess which one was made of metal?? Pictures don't lie, fellow players. Feast your eyes on... the metal kitchen knife!
In summary, my wanderings through my apartment pursuing metal with my makeshift metal detector was an adventure in attraction and an experiment in the elements.
(Yes, I realize that what my magnet dowsing wand *actually detects are magnetic surfaces. I'm not a complete idiot. However, all the magnetic surfaces I found just happened to be metallic. The ends justifies the means, isn't that what they say in science? Besides, I'm going for cute & quirky, not scientifically accurate with no other explanations.)
So, if you want to find metal, a magnet might help, but it certainly will not detect 100% of the metal near you. Because of scientific magnet reasons.
[[Voo]]
Undaunted, I put my grad school education and silly imagination to work. What sort of thing could detect the presence of metal merely by being near it? Eureka, I almost said aloud within my empty-but-for-me apartment, that's it! Magnets!
I quickly made my way to our refrigerator and located the biggest, baddest magnet of them all. It's wand-shaped, so I decided to use it like a dowsing rod and slowly drag it near the many surfaces and items in my home, detecting the presence of metal and pursuing it hotly with this proof taking up the whole of my mind. I documented my process with photos I've posted below.
First, I encountered a Buddha mug. However, close inspection with my magnet wand proved this to be made of a non-metallic substance.
Next, the wand seemed drawn to a square of counter populated only by a small shiny object. It was a hair barrette, and the magnet wand snatched it up off the counter with quick force. Metal at last!
Finally, I tested 2 other items: a Gatorade bottle and a kitchen knife. Guess which one was made of metal?? Pictures don't lie, fellow players. Feast your eyes on... the metal kitchen knife!
In summary, my wanderings through my apartment pursuing metal with my makeshift metal detector was an adventure in attraction and an experiment in the elements.
(Yes, I realize that what my magnet dowsing wand *actually detects are magnetic surfaces. I'm not a complete idiot. However, all the magnetic surfaces I found just happened to be metallic. The ends justifies the means, isn't that what they say in science? Besides, I'm going for cute & quirky, not scientifically accurate with no other explanations.)
So, if you want to find metal, a magnet might help, but it certainly will not detect 100% of the metal near you. Because of scientific magnet reasons.
[[Voo]]
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(none yet)7 comment(s)
posted by anna one on June 7th, 2008 12:27 PM
Wow! I learned something today! That's totally amazing.
posted by Voo on June 7th, 2008 6:37 PM
I had no idea it was called a cow magnet. I'm sure my husband does; he's the magnet expert. The man loves magnets as much as I love goats.
posted by teucer on June 3rd, 2008 9:21 PM
A magnet won't detect all metal - but the task didn't say "detect and pursue all metals".
And the pictures are neat.
posted by Voo on June 3rd, 2008 10:45 PM
>> the task didn't say "detect and pursue all metals"
That's an excellent point. And I'm usually so to-the-letter when it comes to sentences...I can't believe I inferred "all metal" when no such implication was made!
posted by Voo on June 6th, 2008 8:02 PM
Thanks! I was dying to complete tasks and the idea just came to me.
Cow magnet? *peers at picture* Ah no, that is a Jolly Roger magnet from the Pirate Store in Seattle. Sorry to be lacking in cows...I have many magnets and most are silly, but I have no cows. I think I shall remedy this.