Street Science (2017–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - Homemade Lightning - full transcript
Kevin and his team of experts create homemade lightning bolts and build replica lightsabers using a giant Tesla coil. Then, they use everyday items to make a big explosion.
I WANT TO PUT ON A SUIT OF ARMOR
AND HAVE IT PULL ME UP,
AND THEN JUST FLING ME
AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE.
WHAT INVISIBLE FORCE CAN LIFT
EVERYTHING FROM A PAPERCLIP
TO A CAKE TO A HUMAN BEING?
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE.
Delaney: IT'S REPULSIVE
AND IT'S ATTRACTIVE.
IS THAT THE ELECTROMAGNET WE'RE USING?
THAT THING'S A TANK.
AND THE FORCE IS WITH YOU.
IN FACT, IT'S EVERYWHERE.
-OH! -WHOA!
MY NAME IS KEVIN DELANEY.
I'VE BEEN SHOWING OFF THE
MAGIC OF SCIENCE FOR YEARS,
FROM MUSEUMS TO TALK SHOWS.
WE'RE TAKING SCIENCE TO THE STREETS
AND COMBINING EVERYDAY ELEMENTS
IN WAYS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.
I'VE GOT A TALENTED TEAM
OF ENGINEERS AND EXPERTS,
INCLUDING "THE BACKYARD
SCIENTIST" HIMSELF...
WAIT, THAT WAS A TWIST-OFF?
...AND OUR CINEMATOGRAPHER, DARREN,
WHO USES HIGH-TECH
CAMERAS TO REVEAL THE SCIENCE
THAT SURROUNDS US IN WAYS
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
Dyk: THAT'S GNARLY.
THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."
♪♪
-WHAT'S UP, DUDE? -WHAT'S HAPPENING?
THAT'S VERY NICE.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
WAKE ME UP WHEN THERE'S NO WHEELS ON IT.
YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE
THING I ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY
WAS A HOVERBOARD.
- WELL, THERE ARE HOVERBOARDS.
THEY'RE JUST NOT ON THE MARKET YET.
THEY USE MAGNETIC LEVITATION.
WHAT CAN MAKE PEOPLE LOOK
LIKE THEY'RE FLOATING ON AIR
OR CRUSH A TWO-TON CAR?
MAGNETS.
THEY PUSH, PULL, ATTRACT, AND REPEL,
JUST LIKE SOME PEOPLE WE KNOW.
WE'RE MEETING UP WITH
OUR CHEMIST, ANNE-LISE,
WHO'S CREATING A TINY
VERSION OF A HOVERBOARD
WITH THE HELP OF SOME MAGNETS
AND A CONTAINER OF
SUPERCOOL LIQUID NITROGEN.
SO, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
I'M GONNA MOVE THIS
LITTLE, TINY PIECE OF FOAM
OUT FROM UNDERNEATH
THIS LITTLE SILVER DISC.
♪♪
-WHOA! -AWESOME.
THAT'S AWESOME.
OKAY, SHOULD WE PUT SOMETHING ON IT?
OH, MY GOODNESS. THAT'S AWESOME.
SO THIS LITTLE BLACK DISC DOWN
HERE IS A SUPERCONDUCTOR,
AND A SUPERCONDUCTOR,
WHEN IT GETS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY COLD,
BECOMES RESISTANT TO A MAGNETIC FIELD,
AND THAT'S WHAT THE SILVER DISC IS.
IT'S A REALLY STRONG MAGNET.
SO HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN TWO MAGNETS,
YOU STICK THEM ON ONE SIDE, THEY STICK,
IF YOU STICK THEM ON THE OTHER SIDE,
THEY KIND OF PUSH, RIGHT? -YEAH.
Delaney: THIS MAY LOOK LIKE MAGIC,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY MAGNETIC REPULSION.
THERE IS AN UPWARD MAGNETIC
FORCE THAT SUPPORTS THE DISC,
AND THERE'S A DOWNWARD FORCE
OF GRAVITY THAT PRESSES DOWN ON IT.
SO, IF YOU COULD LEVITATE ANYTHING
USING A SUPERCONDUCTOR LIKE THIS,
WHAT WOULD YOU LEVITATE?
-ME. -EXCELLENT ANSWER, MARIE.
SO, THERE YOU GO.
♪♪
SO FAR, WE'VE LEVITATED JUST A FEW OUNCES,
SO WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO BEFORE
WE'RE READY TO FLOAT A PERSON.
SO, NEXT, LET'S TRY
SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER...
A 10-POUND CAKE.
-HEY, WHAT'S UP? -HEY, HOW ARE Y'ALL?
-WANT TO SEE SOMETHING COOL? -YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, YOU WANT TO LOOK UNDER THERE?
SO YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S WORKING.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
THAT'S PRETTY SWEET.
THERE'S NO STRING ABOVE IT.
YOU CAN GO LIKE THIS, TOO.
SO, HOW DO YOU THINK THIS WORKS?
I DON'T KNOW.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
ANTIGRAVITY.
I- WANT SOME ANTIGRAVITY.
- WELL, THERE'S A THOUGHT.
ME, TOO. WHY ISN'T THIS ANTIGRAVITY?
ANY IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
SOME MAGIC?
UH, A LITTLE BIT, IN A WAY.
KURT VONNEGUT IS A WRITER WHO SAID THAT
"SCIENCE IS JUST MAGIC THAT WORKS."
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
IS WALK STRAIGHT UP TO IT.
JUST LIFT STRAIGHT UP.
-WHAAAAT? -PRETTY COOL.
-THAT'S REALLY COOL. -AND THAT'S IT.
SO, HOVERBOARDS WORK ON THE SAME PRINCIPAL.
IN THIS CASE, THE ELECTRIC
CURRENT OF THE LOWER PLATFORM
PRODUCES ITS OWN MAGNETIC
FIELD TO REPEL THE MAGNET ABOVE IT.
THE MAGNETIC DISC THE CAKE SITS ON
IS KEPT IN BALANCE BY A CAMERA
AND A COMPUTER BUILT INTO THE BASE.
FLOATING WITH MAGNETS IS GREAT.
SMASHING STUFF WITH MAGNETS IS EVEN BETTER.
AND NOBODY BUSTS THINGS BETTER
THAN THE BACKYARD SCIENTIST,
KEVIN KOHLER.
IT WORKED!
IT'LL BE GOOD TO SEE KEVIN AGAIN.
I BET HE LOVES MAGNETS.
FOR SURE. FOR SURE.
IT'S NEVER BORING IN HIS BACKYARD.
YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.
♪♪
Delaney: NOTHING IS
EVER SIMPLE HERE, EITHER.
KEVIN HAS ACQUIRED SOME
SUPER-STRONG MAGNETS
TO PLAY WITH,
AND HIS FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS
HAVE SHOWN UP TO WATCH.
MY HEART RATE GOES UP SO MUCH
WHEN I'M WORKING WITH
THESE THINGS 'CAUSE...
I KNOW. THEY'RE SCARY.
THEY'RE SCARY AND THEY'LL
JUMP OUT OF NOWHERE.
ALL RIGHT. HOPEFULLY I DON'T LOSE MY HAND.
I'M GONNA GET, LIKE, A GLOVE.
UH, IT'S NOT GONNA HELP.
"IT'S NOT GONNA HELP."
KEVIN KOHLER'S BROTHER, RILEY,
KNOWS EXACTLY HOW
DANGEROUS THESE MAGNETS CAN BE.
I WAS ALWAYS TOLD, "MAKE
SURE NEVER TO GET ANY FINGERS
OR ANYTHING IN THERE,"
THAT YOU WILL LOSE THEM.
OH, THESE ARE GRIPPY. THESE ARE NICE.
KEEP PRESSURE ON IT AND I'LL PULL IT OFF.
THESE ARE MORE POWERFUL
THAN I THOUGHT THEY WERE.
YEAH. -ALL RIGHT.
GOT ONE SIDE LOADED.
Delaney: THESE MAGNETS PULL WITH SUCH FORCE
THAT THEY CAN SHATTER EACH OTHER.
SO THE GUYS HAVE TO PUSH
THEM TOGETHER CAREFULLY,
FROM A SAFE DISTANCE, WITH THIS TRACK.
ALL RIGHT.
OH, YOU'VE SET OUT TEA AND CAKE.
THAT'S VERY NICE.
WE'LL SEE IF IT'S AS
NICE IN LIKE 10 MINUTES.
RIGHT.
SO, YOU'RE GONNA USE THIS TO
CRUSH THIS POOR LITTLE CUPCAKE?
Kohler: YEP.
WELL, UH, LET'S GET STARTED THEN.
I'M GONNA GO BACK THERE.
I AM GONNA GO SHOOT.
ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU ALL IN A LITTLE BIT.
GOODBYE, CUPCAKE.
♪♪
OH, MAN.
THIS IS A WEIRD-LOOKING GAME.
THIS IS SCARY.
OOH, COME IN A LITTLE FASTER.
-TRYING TO GUIDE. -GO FURTHER, KEVIN.
OH, BOY.
OKAY.
HERE GOES.
-AAH! -WHOA!
HERE GOES.
-AAH! -WHOA!
Delaney: IT'S INVISIBLE,
AND IT CAN DO THIS.
SORRY, CUPCAKE.
KEVIN KOHLER AND NICK ARE PLAYING
WITH SOME VERY POWERFUL
AND DANGEROUS MAGNETS.
WE HAVE NEODYMIUM MAGNETS.
NOW, THE STRENGTH OF A MAGNET
IS MEASURED BY THE GAUSS RATING.
THE REFRIGERATOR MAGNETS
THAT WE HAVE ON OUR FRIDGES
ARE ABOUT, WHAT, 50 GAUSS? -SOUNDS RIGHT.
AND THIS IS 13,000?
13,000.
A GAUSS RATING IS A UNIT
OF MAGNETIC FIELD STRENGTH,
BUT SIZE MATTERS, TOO.
AND A MAGNET'S FORCE IS DETERMINED
BY BOTH GAUSS RATING AND SIZE.
SO, THE CUPCAKE WAS A SQUISH,
BUT THE BANANA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I DON'T KNOW. SPLIT?
[ LAUGHTER ]
DON'T SLIP.
BUT IF YOU DO, IT'LL BE HILARIOUS.
GOOD TO KNOW. READY TO GO?
LET'S DO IT.
READY?
THREE, TWO, ONE.
-OOH! -OOH!
Woman: WHEN THOSE TWO
MAGNETS CAME TOGETHER,
IT MADE ME JUMP, YEAH.
'CAUSE, I MEAN, IT WAS FORCEFUL.
YOU COULD ALMOST, LIKE, HEAR IT.
YOU COULD HEAR THEM CLACK TOGETHER.
IT WAS PRETTY SURPRISING.
LIKE, IT TOOK US ALL ABACK.
Delaney: BUT WE CAN DO
BETTER THAN A BANANA.
WE BORROWED KEVIN'S MOM'S FINE CHINA,
ALL IN THE SERVICE OF SMASHING.
SORRY, KEVIN'S MOM.
THANKS FOR THE FINE CHINA.
I AM SCARED OF THIS ONE.
AND DO YOU WANT TO GIVE IT THE FINAL PUSH
IN THREE, TWO, ONE?
-AAH! [ LAUGHTER ]
THESE MAGNETS ATTRACT WAY MORE FORCEFULLY
WHEN THEY'RE REALLY CLOSE TOGETHER.
THE SAUCER HELD THEM
APART AND MESSED THINGS UP.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE HAVING A CUP OF TEA.
THE TEAQUEL.
- "THE TEAQUEL." [ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT, THREE, TWO, ONE.
-OOH! THAT SPARKED! -WHOA!
-WOW. DID IT? -IT SPARKED.
-YEAH. -YEAH.
COLLIDING METAL WILL
DEFINITELY CREATE SPARKS.
BUT ALSO, LOOK... A PIECE OF THE MAGNET
BREAKS OFF AFTER THE COLLISION,
BUT ITS ATTRACTION IS SO GREAT,
IT RETURNS TO THE LARGER PIECE.
SO WHAT ARE THESE MAGNETS
USED FOR, BESIDES SMASHING STUFF?
NEODYMIUM MAGNETS ARE A VERY
STRONG TYPE OF PERMANENT MAGNET
USED IN HARD DRIVES,
AUDIO SPEAKERS, AND MRI MACHINES.
THE MAGNETS ARE SO
POWERFUL THAT KEVIN AND NICK
HAVE TO USE A SPECIAL
TOOL TO SEPARATE THEM.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OTHER THINGS
THAT ENDURED OUR NEODYMIUM GAUNTLET.
ALL WE DO IS NUDGE THEM CLOSER
UNTIL THEY LEAP TOWARD
EACH OTHER FURIOUSLY.
MAGNETIC FORCE IS INVISIBLE
BUT ALWAYS THERE IN A PERMANENT MAGNET.
AND THIS EGG IS NOW TOAST.
♪♪
♪♪
SO, HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN
THESE MAGNETS LEVITATE
WHEN THEY'RE FLIPPED SO
THEY REPEL EACH OTHER?
DARREN WANTS A HOVERBOARD,
SO LET'S LET HIM FIND OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS DOES LOOK IMPRESSIVE.
HOW MANY?
- EACH ONE OF THESE...
- I DON'T WANT TO COUNT.
THERE ARE 34 MAGNETS IN THE BOTTOM HALF.
-NOW I'M GONNA COUNT. -AND 34...
-YOU BETTER BE RIGHT. -I PROMISE IT'S 34.
34 ON THE BOTTOM, 34 ON THE TOP.
-OKAY. -SO YOU GOT 68 MAGNETS TOTAL.
SO, I'M ASSUMING, THEN,
THAT THESE ARE GONNA BE VERY POWERFUL.
VERY STRONG. IN FACT, CHECK THIS OUT.
WHOA!
OKAY.
NONE OF THEM MADE IT PAST THE EDGE.
NO, THEY DID NOT.
THESE ARE INCREDIBLY POWERFUL MAGNETS.
EACH ONE OF THESE, IF YOU
PUT TWO OF THEM TOGETHER,
WOULD HAVE A CRUSHING
FORCE OF AROUND 200 POUNDS.
SO DON'T GET IN BETWEEN THEM.
CORRECT, BUT IF YOU FLIP THEM OVER,
YOU GET THE REPULSIVE FORCE.
WHILE NICK PRIES OFF ALL THOSE PAPER CLIPS,
DARREN AND I ARE HITTING THE STREETS
WITH SOME CREEPY-LOOKING FLUID
THAT ALSO APPEARS TO DEFY GRAVITY.
-HEY, GUYS. -OH, HEY!
DO YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING COOL?
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.
IT'S PRETTY COOL, HUH?
I'LL JUST SLOSH IT AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
OH, MY GOSH!
-SO... -SEBASTIAN, LOOK AT THAT.
THERE YOU GO.
IT'S ACTUALLY A MAGNETIC
LIQUID, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
THIS IS CALLED FERROFLUID.
FERROFLUID IS SIMPLY TINY NANOPARTICLES
OF MAGNETIZED IRON SUSPENDED IN OIL.
WHEN PLACED IN A MAGNETIC FIELD
ABOVE OUR NEODYMIUM MAGNET,
THE NANOPARTICLES IMMEDIATELY ORGANIZE
THEMSELVES ALONG THE
LINES OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD,
CREATING THESE SPIKY PATTERNS.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? -NEAT.
I'VE HIDDEN A MAGNET
HERE UNDERNEATH THE FOAM.
WHEN I MOVE THE CONTAINER,
THE SPIKES KEEP FOLLOWING
THE MAGNETIC FIELD.
WHAT IF YOU TOUCHED THAT?
THE SPIKES ARE NOT SHARP.
THEY ACTUALLY BEHAVE LIKE A LIQUID.
HIGH FIVE?
HI, GUYS. YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING?
-UH, YEAH, SURE. -ALL RIGHT, COME ON OVER.
SO WHAT COLOR DO YOU THINK
WE SHOULD START WITH FIRST?
UM, YELLOW.
WHAT?
-OH, MY GOD. -THAT'S SO COOL.
THAT LOOKS SO COOL.
Delaney: WE FLOATED, CRUSHED...
-OOH! -WHOA!
...AND EXPLODED A
VARIETY OF INNOCENT ITEMS.
WE'RE USING A POWERFUL INVISIBLE FORCE
THAT'S AROUND US ALL THE TIME.
SO, WHAT COLOR DO YOU THINK
WE SHOULD START WITH FIRST?
UM, YELLOW.
WHAT?
THAT LOOKS SO COOL.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE.
WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS
DISH IS A MAGNETIC LIQUID
CALLED FERROFLUID
THAT REACTS WHEN A
MAGNETIC FIELD IS AROUND.
Delaney: WHEN I DROP
PAINT INTO THE FERROFLUID,
IT FLOWS INTO THE VALLEYS
CREATED BY THE MAGNETIC FIELD.
SO HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN WE KIND OF MOVE IT
AROUND THE MAGNETIC FIELD.
-OH, NICE. -OH, MY GOD.
♪♪
BACK ON THE STREET,
NICK'S LEVITATION PLATFORM
IS READY TO BE TESTED.
CAN 68 MAGNETS SUPPORT THE
WEIGHT OF A FULLY GROWN ADULT?
OH, HEY, GUYS. -HI.
-WHAT'S UP? HOW'S IT GOING? -COME ON OVER.
DO YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
WHAT IS THIS?
DO Y'ALL WANT TO TAKE A STEP UP?
-SURE. -IS IT SAFE?
IT'S VERY SAFE.
IT'S BRIGHT YELLOW.
IT DOES SAY CAUTION ON THE TOP.
HERE YOU GO. -YEAH.
SO HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN WE PILE
UP AND STILL KEEP THEM FLOATING?
TA-DA!
HAND UP?
-YES. -AHA.
OH, MY GOSH.
I DON'T WANT IT TO FALL.
ADDED A LITTLE EXTRA DARREN.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WOULD WORK.
BECAUSE IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT
COULD SUPPORT A WHOLE LOT.
BUT WHEN I GOT ON, IT WAS REALLY STEADY
AND JUST REALLY COOL TO SEE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF REPULSIVE
FORCE BUILT INTO THIS THING.
BUT WE KIND OF WANT TO
KNOW WHAT THE LIMITS ARE.
Delaney: EVEN WITH OVER 400 POUNDS
PUSHING DOWN ON THE PLATFORM,
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE
MAGNETS HAS BARELY CHANGED.
SO, HOW MUCH MORE WEIGHT CAN WE LEVITATE?
HEY, FRIENDS, DO Y'ALL WANT TO TRY IT?
-SURE. -COME ON OVER.
CAREFULLY STEP UP ONTO THIS PLATFORM.
ALL RIGHT, NOW, YOU GUYS
WANT TO COME AROUND THIS SIDE?
EACH ADDITIONAL PERSON PUSHES
THE MAGNETS DOWN CLOSER,
REDUCING THE SPACE BETWEEN THEM.
SEVEN PEOPLE, ALMOST 1,000 POUNDS,
AND THE PLATFORM IS STILL LEVITATING.
-SO NICE TO MEET ALL OF YOU. [ LAUGHTER ]
EVEN WITH ALL OF YOUR WEIGHT COMBINED,
YOU STILL ARE NOT SMUSHING
THOSE MAGNETS TOGETHER,
WHICH LEADS US TO
BELIEVE THAT WE COULD TAKE
AN EVEN HEAVIER OBJECT THAN SEVEN PEOPLE
AND STILL HAVE LEVITATION.
ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
GET OFF.
IN A SLOW AND ORDERLY FASHION.
YES, CAREFULLY.
SURE.
WE BORROWED THIS BIG OLD SAFE
FROM THE BACKYARD SCIENTIST, KEVIN KOHLER.
THIS HUNK OF STEEL AND
CONCRETE TIPS THE SCALES
AT ALMOST 1,400 POUNDS.
OH, THEY'RE SO CLOSE.
-YEAH, IT WILL CREAK. -OH, OH, OH.
-OOH. -THERE IT GOES.
IT'S HAPPENING. IT'S HAPPENING.
I DON'T KNOW.
-AND... -I SEE GOOD STUFF.
AND STOP. WOW!
- I THINK IT ACTUALLY WORKED.
- YOU DID IT. IT WORKED.
-IT WORKED! -IT ACTUALLY WORKED!
-WHOO! -NICE!
-THERE YOU GO, NICK. -ALL RIGHT!
GREAT JOB, NICK.
SUCCESS, MAN.
-NICE JOB, NICK! -LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
-SURE. -YEAH.
THE REPELLING FORCE BETWEEN
THE MAGNETS INCREASES
AS THEY GET CLOSER TOGETHER.
THAT'S COOL.
LET'S HAVE A MEASURE
AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.
1/4 OF AN INCH BETWEEN
THE MAGNETS DOWN THERE,
SO EVEN CLOSER THAN I
THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE.
SO, HOW MUCH WOULD IT TAKE
TO MAKE THE MAGNETS TOUCH?
BY NICK'S CALCULATIONS,
WELL OVER 2,000 POUNDS.
HEY, LET'S HEAR IT FOR MAGNETS, EVERYBODY.
-YEAH. -WHOO-HOO!
AND THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH
FOR HANGING OUT WITH US.
-THANK YOU. -YEP. THANK YOU.
NOW WE'RE GOING WITH
KEVIN KOHLER TO ONE OF HIS
FAVORITE PLACES... THE JUNKYARD.
AND WE'RE HAULING HIS
1,400-POUND SAFE WITH US.
OH, MAN, WE'RE HERE, GUYS.
IS THAT THE ELECTROMAGNET WE'RE USING?
THAT THING'S A TANK.
Delaney: ELECTROMAGNETS
AREN'T PERMANENT MAGNETS.
THEY BECOME MAGNETIC
WHEN AN ELECTRIC CURRENT
IS SENT THROUGH A LARGE PIECE OF IRON.
WHEN WE WANT TO SEE HOW
MUCH WE CAN LIFT WITH A MAGNET,
BIGGER IS BETTER.
AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST ONE WE COULD FIND.
I WANT TO PUT ON A SUIT OF ARMOR
AND HAVE IT PULL ME UP,
AND THEN JUST FLING ME
AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE.
THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE DANGEROUS, KEVIN.
I'M INTO IT.
HOW ABOUT WE JUST LIFT
SOMETHING REALLY HEAVY?
ALL RIGHT, THAT SOUNDS OKAY.
ROB DAVENPORT AT R&L METALS
IS GOING TO BE BEHIND THE WHEEL
TO EXPERTLY NAVIGATE THE GRAVITY
-DEFYING STUNTS WE HAVE IN MIND.
ROB, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE.
THIS IS A VERY, VERY
COOL MAGNET YOU'VE GOT.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A BUNCH OF STUFF THAT
WE WERE HOPING TO TRY AND LIFT,
AND WE THOUGHT MAYBE YOU COULD HELP US.
LET'S DO IT. I'M READY.
ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD.
OUR GOAL IS TO SEE HOW MUCH WE CAN LIFT
WITH OUR EXTREMELY POWERFUL MAGNET.
FIRST UP, NICK SHOWS OFF THE FORCE
WE CAN'T SEE WITH 5,000 PAPER CLIPS.
YOU SPILLED SOME PAPER CLIPS.
I KNOW, BUT I THINK THIS'LL CLEAN IT UP.
OOH! THEY'RE ALL STANDING UP ON EACH OTHER.
LOOK AT THEM CLIMBING ON EACH OTHER.
OOH!
Delaney: WE'RE TAKING
SCIENCE TO THE JUNKYARD.
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU FIND A MAGNET LIKE THIS?
♪♪
Kohler: OOH! DUDE! THEY'RE ALL
STANDING UP ON EACH OTHER.
LOOK AT THEM CLIMBING ON EACH OTHER.
OOH!
THAT'S AWESOME.
♪♪
GOT SOME GOOD HIGH SPEED TO THIS THING.
-ALL RIGHT, COOL. -YEAH.
HERE. -OH, MAN.
Kohler: IT'S COOL, WHEN IT
FIRST STARTS TO ATTRACT THEM,
THEY ALL KIND OF SHIMMER
AND STAND UP ALL AT ONCE.
Delaney: THEY LOOK
EXCITED TO GET IN THE AIR.
THE PAPER CLIPS JUST
TAKE ON A LIFE OF THEIR OWN.
THE PAPER CLIPS ARE ESPECIALLY COOL,
BECAUSE THEY CREATED
THIS SHAPE, LIKE AN ARCH,
THAT REPRESENTED THE PATTERN
THAT THE MAGNETIC FIELD MAKES.
Delaney: YOU CAN REALLY SEE THIS EFFECT
AS DARREN SHOOTS THE PAPER
CLIPS CLIMBING OUT OF A HUGE PUDDLE.
♪♪
NEXT, SOME CAST-IRON PANS.
INDESTRUCTIBLE IN THE KITCHEN,
BUT CAN THEY STAND UP TO
OUR GIANT ELECTROMAGNET?
OOH!
THAT WAS AWESOME.
NOW, HOW ABOUT KEVIN'S 1,400-POUND SAFE?
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
IS IT GONNA PICK IT UP?
All: [ Chanting ] LIFT!
LIFT! LIFT! LIFT! LIFT!
OH, YEAH!
AN ELECTROMAGNET IS
BASICALLY A BIG PIECE OF IRON
WITH A COPPER COIL WRAPPED
ALL THE WAY AROUND IT.
WHEN YOU PUSH ELECTRICITY
THROUGH THAT COPPER COIL,
IT CREATES A MAGNETIC FIELD,
AND THAT IRON CORE
AMPLIFIES THE MAGNETIC FIELD
AND MAKES IT EVEN STRONGER.
SO YOU CAN MAKE A GIANT ELECTROMAGNET
THAT YOU CAN TURN ON AND OFF
AND MAKE MORE POWERFUL
AS YOU NEED TO PICK UP
HEAVIER AND HEAVIER STUFF.
AND IT MAKES IT REALLY
USEFUL IN A SETTING LIKE THIS
FOR PICKING UP BIG PIECES OF SCRAP METAL.
THINK YOU CAN CRUSH THAT BARREL?
OH, MY GOD!
-WHOA! -YEAH!
Kohler: NICELY DONE.
THAT WAS SWEET.
DUDE, OH, MAN!
THE ONE WHEEL JUST WENT RIGHT THROUGH IT.
IT BROKE THE WHEEL OFF.
-DID IT REALLY? -YEAH.
Dyk: SO I GOT SOME HIGH SPEED ON THIS.
-YEAH? -OH, WOW.
JUST CRUMPLES IT.
SO YOU COULD SEE RIGHT HERE AS THE SAFE
IS IMPACTING THE BARREL,
LOOK AT THE BASE OF
BARREL, JUST HOW MUCH, LIKE,
FORCE IS BEING, LIKE,
DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND.
LIKE, THAT LOOKS REALLY TIGHT.
♪♪
Delaney: NEXT, WE WANT TO CHALLENGE
ROB'S MASTERY OF THIS GIANT MAGNET.
HOW ADEPT IS HIS TOSSING SKILL?
LET'S FIND OUT.
GO FOR IT.
ALL DEPENDS ON THAT SWING.
OH, HERE WE GO!
-HEY! -YAY!
NICE SHOT!
♪♪
-WHOA! -WHOO!
SO, KEVIN, WHAT DO YOU
KEEP IN THIS SAFE ANYWAY?
NO, DON'T WORRY, I'LL SEND FOR IT.
ALL RIGHT.
AND HAVE IT PULL ME UP,
AND THEN JUST FLING ME
AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE.
WHAT INVISIBLE FORCE CAN LIFT
EVERYTHING FROM A PAPERCLIP
TO A CAKE TO A HUMAN BEING?
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE.
Delaney: IT'S REPULSIVE
AND IT'S ATTRACTIVE.
IS THAT THE ELECTROMAGNET WE'RE USING?
THAT THING'S A TANK.
AND THE FORCE IS WITH YOU.
IN FACT, IT'S EVERYWHERE.
-OH! -WHOA!
MY NAME IS KEVIN DELANEY.
I'VE BEEN SHOWING OFF THE
MAGIC OF SCIENCE FOR YEARS,
FROM MUSEUMS TO TALK SHOWS.
WE'RE TAKING SCIENCE TO THE STREETS
AND COMBINING EVERYDAY ELEMENTS
IN WAYS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.
I'VE GOT A TALENTED TEAM
OF ENGINEERS AND EXPERTS,
INCLUDING "THE BACKYARD
SCIENTIST" HIMSELF...
WAIT, THAT WAS A TWIST-OFF?
...AND OUR CINEMATOGRAPHER, DARREN,
WHO USES HIGH-TECH
CAMERAS TO REVEAL THE SCIENCE
THAT SURROUNDS US IN WAYS
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
Dyk: THAT'S GNARLY.
THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."
♪♪
-WHAT'S UP, DUDE? -WHAT'S HAPPENING?
THAT'S VERY NICE.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
WAKE ME UP WHEN THERE'S NO WHEELS ON IT.
YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE
THING I ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY
WAS A HOVERBOARD.
- WELL, THERE ARE HOVERBOARDS.
THEY'RE JUST NOT ON THE MARKET YET.
THEY USE MAGNETIC LEVITATION.
WHAT CAN MAKE PEOPLE LOOK
LIKE THEY'RE FLOATING ON AIR
OR CRUSH A TWO-TON CAR?
MAGNETS.
THEY PUSH, PULL, ATTRACT, AND REPEL,
JUST LIKE SOME PEOPLE WE KNOW.
WE'RE MEETING UP WITH
OUR CHEMIST, ANNE-LISE,
WHO'S CREATING A TINY
VERSION OF A HOVERBOARD
WITH THE HELP OF SOME MAGNETS
AND A CONTAINER OF
SUPERCOOL LIQUID NITROGEN.
SO, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
I'M GONNA MOVE THIS
LITTLE, TINY PIECE OF FOAM
OUT FROM UNDERNEATH
THIS LITTLE SILVER DISC.
♪♪
-WHOA! -AWESOME.
THAT'S AWESOME.
OKAY, SHOULD WE PUT SOMETHING ON IT?
OH, MY GOODNESS. THAT'S AWESOME.
SO THIS LITTLE BLACK DISC DOWN
HERE IS A SUPERCONDUCTOR,
AND A SUPERCONDUCTOR,
WHEN IT GETS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY COLD,
BECOMES RESISTANT TO A MAGNETIC FIELD,
AND THAT'S WHAT THE SILVER DISC IS.
IT'S A REALLY STRONG MAGNET.
SO HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN TWO MAGNETS,
YOU STICK THEM ON ONE SIDE, THEY STICK,
IF YOU STICK THEM ON THE OTHER SIDE,
THEY KIND OF PUSH, RIGHT? -YEAH.
Delaney: THIS MAY LOOK LIKE MAGIC,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY MAGNETIC REPULSION.
THERE IS AN UPWARD MAGNETIC
FORCE THAT SUPPORTS THE DISC,
AND THERE'S A DOWNWARD FORCE
OF GRAVITY THAT PRESSES DOWN ON IT.
SO, IF YOU COULD LEVITATE ANYTHING
USING A SUPERCONDUCTOR LIKE THIS,
WHAT WOULD YOU LEVITATE?
-ME. -EXCELLENT ANSWER, MARIE.
SO, THERE YOU GO.
♪♪
SO FAR, WE'VE LEVITATED JUST A FEW OUNCES,
SO WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO BEFORE
WE'RE READY TO FLOAT A PERSON.
SO, NEXT, LET'S TRY
SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER...
A 10-POUND CAKE.
-HEY, WHAT'S UP? -HEY, HOW ARE Y'ALL?
-WANT TO SEE SOMETHING COOL? -YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, YOU WANT TO LOOK UNDER THERE?
SO YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S WORKING.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
THAT'S PRETTY SWEET.
THERE'S NO STRING ABOVE IT.
YOU CAN GO LIKE THIS, TOO.
SO, HOW DO YOU THINK THIS WORKS?
I DON'T KNOW.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
ANTIGRAVITY.
I- WANT SOME ANTIGRAVITY.
- WELL, THERE'S A THOUGHT.
ME, TOO. WHY ISN'T THIS ANTIGRAVITY?
ANY IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
SOME MAGIC?
UH, A LITTLE BIT, IN A WAY.
KURT VONNEGUT IS A WRITER WHO SAID THAT
"SCIENCE IS JUST MAGIC THAT WORKS."
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
IS WALK STRAIGHT UP TO IT.
JUST LIFT STRAIGHT UP.
-WHAAAAT? -PRETTY COOL.
-THAT'S REALLY COOL. -AND THAT'S IT.
SO, HOVERBOARDS WORK ON THE SAME PRINCIPAL.
IN THIS CASE, THE ELECTRIC
CURRENT OF THE LOWER PLATFORM
PRODUCES ITS OWN MAGNETIC
FIELD TO REPEL THE MAGNET ABOVE IT.
THE MAGNETIC DISC THE CAKE SITS ON
IS KEPT IN BALANCE BY A CAMERA
AND A COMPUTER BUILT INTO THE BASE.
FLOATING WITH MAGNETS IS GREAT.
SMASHING STUFF WITH MAGNETS IS EVEN BETTER.
AND NOBODY BUSTS THINGS BETTER
THAN THE BACKYARD SCIENTIST,
KEVIN KOHLER.
IT WORKED!
IT'LL BE GOOD TO SEE KEVIN AGAIN.
I BET HE LOVES MAGNETS.
FOR SURE. FOR SURE.
IT'S NEVER BORING IN HIS BACKYARD.
YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.
♪♪
Delaney: NOTHING IS
EVER SIMPLE HERE, EITHER.
KEVIN HAS ACQUIRED SOME
SUPER-STRONG MAGNETS
TO PLAY WITH,
AND HIS FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS
HAVE SHOWN UP TO WATCH.
MY HEART RATE GOES UP SO MUCH
WHEN I'M WORKING WITH
THESE THINGS 'CAUSE...
I KNOW. THEY'RE SCARY.
THEY'RE SCARY AND THEY'LL
JUMP OUT OF NOWHERE.
ALL RIGHT. HOPEFULLY I DON'T LOSE MY HAND.
I'M GONNA GET, LIKE, A GLOVE.
UH, IT'S NOT GONNA HELP.
"IT'S NOT GONNA HELP."
KEVIN KOHLER'S BROTHER, RILEY,
KNOWS EXACTLY HOW
DANGEROUS THESE MAGNETS CAN BE.
I WAS ALWAYS TOLD, "MAKE
SURE NEVER TO GET ANY FINGERS
OR ANYTHING IN THERE,"
THAT YOU WILL LOSE THEM.
OH, THESE ARE GRIPPY. THESE ARE NICE.
KEEP PRESSURE ON IT AND I'LL PULL IT OFF.
THESE ARE MORE POWERFUL
THAN I THOUGHT THEY WERE.
YEAH. -ALL RIGHT.
GOT ONE SIDE LOADED.
Delaney: THESE MAGNETS PULL WITH SUCH FORCE
THAT THEY CAN SHATTER EACH OTHER.
SO THE GUYS HAVE TO PUSH
THEM TOGETHER CAREFULLY,
FROM A SAFE DISTANCE, WITH THIS TRACK.
ALL RIGHT.
OH, YOU'VE SET OUT TEA AND CAKE.
THAT'S VERY NICE.
WE'LL SEE IF IT'S AS
NICE IN LIKE 10 MINUTES.
RIGHT.
SO, YOU'RE GONNA USE THIS TO
CRUSH THIS POOR LITTLE CUPCAKE?
Kohler: YEP.
WELL, UH, LET'S GET STARTED THEN.
I'M GONNA GO BACK THERE.
I AM GONNA GO SHOOT.
ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU ALL IN A LITTLE BIT.
GOODBYE, CUPCAKE.
♪♪
OH, MAN.
THIS IS A WEIRD-LOOKING GAME.
THIS IS SCARY.
OOH, COME IN A LITTLE FASTER.
-TRYING TO GUIDE. -GO FURTHER, KEVIN.
OH, BOY.
OKAY.
HERE GOES.
-AAH! -WHOA!
HERE GOES.
-AAH! -WHOA!
Delaney: IT'S INVISIBLE,
AND IT CAN DO THIS.
SORRY, CUPCAKE.
KEVIN KOHLER AND NICK ARE PLAYING
WITH SOME VERY POWERFUL
AND DANGEROUS MAGNETS.
WE HAVE NEODYMIUM MAGNETS.
NOW, THE STRENGTH OF A MAGNET
IS MEASURED BY THE GAUSS RATING.
THE REFRIGERATOR MAGNETS
THAT WE HAVE ON OUR FRIDGES
ARE ABOUT, WHAT, 50 GAUSS? -SOUNDS RIGHT.
AND THIS IS 13,000?
13,000.
A GAUSS RATING IS A UNIT
OF MAGNETIC FIELD STRENGTH,
BUT SIZE MATTERS, TOO.
AND A MAGNET'S FORCE IS DETERMINED
BY BOTH GAUSS RATING AND SIZE.
SO, THE CUPCAKE WAS A SQUISH,
BUT THE BANANA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I DON'T KNOW. SPLIT?
[ LAUGHTER ]
DON'T SLIP.
BUT IF YOU DO, IT'LL BE HILARIOUS.
GOOD TO KNOW. READY TO GO?
LET'S DO IT.
READY?
THREE, TWO, ONE.
-OOH! -OOH!
Woman: WHEN THOSE TWO
MAGNETS CAME TOGETHER,
IT MADE ME JUMP, YEAH.
'CAUSE, I MEAN, IT WAS FORCEFUL.
YOU COULD ALMOST, LIKE, HEAR IT.
YOU COULD HEAR THEM CLACK TOGETHER.
IT WAS PRETTY SURPRISING.
LIKE, IT TOOK US ALL ABACK.
Delaney: BUT WE CAN DO
BETTER THAN A BANANA.
WE BORROWED KEVIN'S MOM'S FINE CHINA,
ALL IN THE SERVICE OF SMASHING.
SORRY, KEVIN'S MOM.
THANKS FOR THE FINE CHINA.
I AM SCARED OF THIS ONE.
AND DO YOU WANT TO GIVE IT THE FINAL PUSH
IN THREE, TWO, ONE?
-AAH! [ LAUGHTER ]
THESE MAGNETS ATTRACT WAY MORE FORCEFULLY
WHEN THEY'RE REALLY CLOSE TOGETHER.
THE SAUCER HELD THEM
APART AND MESSED THINGS UP.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE HAVING A CUP OF TEA.
THE TEAQUEL.
- "THE TEAQUEL." [ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT, THREE, TWO, ONE.
-OOH! THAT SPARKED! -WHOA!
-WOW. DID IT? -IT SPARKED.
-YEAH. -YEAH.
COLLIDING METAL WILL
DEFINITELY CREATE SPARKS.
BUT ALSO, LOOK... A PIECE OF THE MAGNET
BREAKS OFF AFTER THE COLLISION,
BUT ITS ATTRACTION IS SO GREAT,
IT RETURNS TO THE LARGER PIECE.
SO WHAT ARE THESE MAGNETS
USED FOR, BESIDES SMASHING STUFF?
NEODYMIUM MAGNETS ARE A VERY
STRONG TYPE OF PERMANENT MAGNET
USED IN HARD DRIVES,
AUDIO SPEAKERS, AND MRI MACHINES.
THE MAGNETS ARE SO
POWERFUL THAT KEVIN AND NICK
HAVE TO USE A SPECIAL
TOOL TO SEPARATE THEM.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OTHER THINGS
THAT ENDURED OUR NEODYMIUM GAUNTLET.
ALL WE DO IS NUDGE THEM CLOSER
UNTIL THEY LEAP TOWARD
EACH OTHER FURIOUSLY.
MAGNETIC FORCE IS INVISIBLE
BUT ALWAYS THERE IN A PERMANENT MAGNET.
AND THIS EGG IS NOW TOAST.
♪♪
♪♪
SO, HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN
THESE MAGNETS LEVITATE
WHEN THEY'RE FLIPPED SO
THEY REPEL EACH OTHER?
DARREN WANTS A HOVERBOARD,
SO LET'S LET HIM FIND OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS DOES LOOK IMPRESSIVE.
HOW MANY?
- EACH ONE OF THESE...
- I DON'T WANT TO COUNT.
THERE ARE 34 MAGNETS IN THE BOTTOM HALF.
-NOW I'M GONNA COUNT. -AND 34...
-YOU BETTER BE RIGHT. -I PROMISE IT'S 34.
34 ON THE BOTTOM, 34 ON THE TOP.
-OKAY. -SO YOU GOT 68 MAGNETS TOTAL.
SO, I'M ASSUMING, THEN,
THAT THESE ARE GONNA BE VERY POWERFUL.
VERY STRONG. IN FACT, CHECK THIS OUT.
WHOA!
OKAY.
NONE OF THEM MADE IT PAST THE EDGE.
NO, THEY DID NOT.
THESE ARE INCREDIBLY POWERFUL MAGNETS.
EACH ONE OF THESE, IF YOU
PUT TWO OF THEM TOGETHER,
WOULD HAVE A CRUSHING
FORCE OF AROUND 200 POUNDS.
SO DON'T GET IN BETWEEN THEM.
CORRECT, BUT IF YOU FLIP THEM OVER,
YOU GET THE REPULSIVE FORCE.
WHILE NICK PRIES OFF ALL THOSE PAPER CLIPS,
DARREN AND I ARE HITTING THE STREETS
WITH SOME CREEPY-LOOKING FLUID
THAT ALSO APPEARS TO DEFY GRAVITY.
-HEY, GUYS. -OH, HEY!
DO YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING COOL?
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.
IT'S PRETTY COOL, HUH?
I'LL JUST SLOSH IT AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
OH, MY GOSH!
-SO... -SEBASTIAN, LOOK AT THAT.
THERE YOU GO.
IT'S ACTUALLY A MAGNETIC
LIQUID, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
THIS IS CALLED FERROFLUID.
FERROFLUID IS SIMPLY TINY NANOPARTICLES
OF MAGNETIZED IRON SUSPENDED IN OIL.
WHEN PLACED IN A MAGNETIC FIELD
ABOVE OUR NEODYMIUM MAGNET,
THE NANOPARTICLES IMMEDIATELY ORGANIZE
THEMSELVES ALONG THE
LINES OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD,
CREATING THESE SPIKY PATTERNS.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? -NEAT.
I'VE HIDDEN A MAGNET
HERE UNDERNEATH THE FOAM.
WHEN I MOVE THE CONTAINER,
THE SPIKES KEEP FOLLOWING
THE MAGNETIC FIELD.
WHAT IF YOU TOUCHED THAT?
THE SPIKES ARE NOT SHARP.
THEY ACTUALLY BEHAVE LIKE A LIQUID.
HIGH FIVE?
HI, GUYS. YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING?
-UH, YEAH, SURE. -ALL RIGHT, COME ON OVER.
SO WHAT COLOR DO YOU THINK
WE SHOULD START WITH FIRST?
UM, YELLOW.
WHAT?
-OH, MY GOD. -THAT'S SO COOL.
THAT LOOKS SO COOL.
Delaney: WE FLOATED, CRUSHED...
-OOH! -WHOA!
...AND EXPLODED A
VARIETY OF INNOCENT ITEMS.
WE'RE USING A POWERFUL INVISIBLE FORCE
THAT'S AROUND US ALL THE TIME.
SO, WHAT COLOR DO YOU THINK
WE SHOULD START WITH FIRST?
UM, YELLOW.
WHAT?
THAT LOOKS SO COOL.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE.
WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS
DISH IS A MAGNETIC LIQUID
CALLED FERROFLUID
THAT REACTS WHEN A
MAGNETIC FIELD IS AROUND.
Delaney: WHEN I DROP
PAINT INTO THE FERROFLUID,
IT FLOWS INTO THE VALLEYS
CREATED BY THE MAGNETIC FIELD.
SO HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN WE KIND OF MOVE IT
AROUND THE MAGNETIC FIELD.
-OH, NICE. -OH, MY GOD.
♪♪
BACK ON THE STREET,
NICK'S LEVITATION PLATFORM
IS READY TO BE TESTED.
CAN 68 MAGNETS SUPPORT THE
WEIGHT OF A FULLY GROWN ADULT?
OH, HEY, GUYS. -HI.
-WHAT'S UP? HOW'S IT GOING? -COME ON OVER.
DO YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
WHAT IS THIS?
DO Y'ALL WANT TO TAKE A STEP UP?
-SURE. -IS IT SAFE?
IT'S VERY SAFE.
IT'S BRIGHT YELLOW.
IT DOES SAY CAUTION ON THE TOP.
HERE YOU GO. -YEAH.
SO HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN WE PILE
UP AND STILL KEEP THEM FLOATING?
TA-DA!
HAND UP?
-YES. -AHA.
OH, MY GOSH.
I DON'T WANT IT TO FALL.
ADDED A LITTLE EXTRA DARREN.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WOULD WORK.
BECAUSE IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT
COULD SUPPORT A WHOLE LOT.
BUT WHEN I GOT ON, IT WAS REALLY STEADY
AND JUST REALLY COOL TO SEE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF REPULSIVE
FORCE BUILT INTO THIS THING.
BUT WE KIND OF WANT TO
KNOW WHAT THE LIMITS ARE.
Delaney: EVEN WITH OVER 400 POUNDS
PUSHING DOWN ON THE PLATFORM,
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE
MAGNETS HAS BARELY CHANGED.
SO, HOW MUCH MORE WEIGHT CAN WE LEVITATE?
HEY, FRIENDS, DO Y'ALL WANT TO TRY IT?
-SURE. -COME ON OVER.
CAREFULLY STEP UP ONTO THIS PLATFORM.
ALL RIGHT, NOW, YOU GUYS
WANT TO COME AROUND THIS SIDE?
EACH ADDITIONAL PERSON PUSHES
THE MAGNETS DOWN CLOSER,
REDUCING THE SPACE BETWEEN THEM.
SEVEN PEOPLE, ALMOST 1,000 POUNDS,
AND THE PLATFORM IS STILL LEVITATING.
-SO NICE TO MEET ALL OF YOU. [ LAUGHTER ]
EVEN WITH ALL OF YOUR WEIGHT COMBINED,
YOU STILL ARE NOT SMUSHING
THOSE MAGNETS TOGETHER,
WHICH LEADS US TO
BELIEVE THAT WE COULD TAKE
AN EVEN HEAVIER OBJECT THAN SEVEN PEOPLE
AND STILL HAVE LEVITATION.
ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
GET OFF.
IN A SLOW AND ORDERLY FASHION.
YES, CAREFULLY.
SURE.
WE BORROWED THIS BIG OLD SAFE
FROM THE BACKYARD SCIENTIST, KEVIN KOHLER.
THIS HUNK OF STEEL AND
CONCRETE TIPS THE SCALES
AT ALMOST 1,400 POUNDS.
OH, THEY'RE SO CLOSE.
-YEAH, IT WILL CREAK. -OH, OH, OH.
-OOH. -THERE IT GOES.
IT'S HAPPENING. IT'S HAPPENING.
I DON'T KNOW.
-AND... -I SEE GOOD STUFF.
AND STOP. WOW!
- I THINK IT ACTUALLY WORKED.
- YOU DID IT. IT WORKED.
-IT WORKED! -IT ACTUALLY WORKED!
-WHOO! -NICE!
-THERE YOU GO, NICK. -ALL RIGHT!
GREAT JOB, NICK.
SUCCESS, MAN.
-NICE JOB, NICK! -LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
-SURE. -YEAH.
THE REPELLING FORCE BETWEEN
THE MAGNETS INCREASES
AS THEY GET CLOSER TOGETHER.
THAT'S COOL.
LET'S HAVE A MEASURE
AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.
1/4 OF AN INCH BETWEEN
THE MAGNETS DOWN THERE,
SO EVEN CLOSER THAN I
THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE.
SO, HOW MUCH WOULD IT TAKE
TO MAKE THE MAGNETS TOUCH?
BY NICK'S CALCULATIONS,
WELL OVER 2,000 POUNDS.
HEY, LET'S HEAR IT FOR MAGNETS, EVERYBODY.
-YEAH. -WHOO-HOO!
AND THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH
FOR HANGING OUT WITH US.
-THANK YOU. -YEP. THANK YOU.
NOW WE'RE GOING WITH
KEVIN KOHLER TO ONE OF HIS
FAVORITE PLACES... THE JUNKYARD.
AND WE'RE HAULING HIS
1,400-POUND SAFE WITH US.
OH, MAN, WE'RE HERE, GUYS.
IS THAT THE ELECTROMAGNET WE'RE USING?
THAT THING'S A TANK.
Delaney: ELECTROMAGNETS
AREN'T PERMANENT MAGNETS.
THEY BECOME MAGNETIC
WHEN AN ELECTRIC CURRENT
IS SENT THROUGH A LARGE PIECE OF IRON.
WHEN WE WANT TO SEE HOW
MUCH WE CAN LIFT WITH A MAGNET,
BIGGER IS BETTER.
AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST ONE WE COULD FIND.
I WANT TO PUT ON A SUIT OF ARMOR
AND HAVE IT PULL ME UP,
AND THEN JUST FLING ME
AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE.
THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE DANGEROUS, KEVIN.
I'M INTO IT.
HOW ABOUT WE JUST LIFT
SOMETHING REALLY HEAVY?
ALL RIGHT, THAT SOUNDS OKAY.
ROB DAVENPORT AT R&L METALS
IS GOING TO BE BEHIND THE WHEEL
TO EXPERTLY NAVIGATE THE GRAVITY
-DEFYING STUNTS WE HAVE IN MIND.
ROB, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE.
THIS IS A VERY, VERY
COOL MAGNET YOU'VE GOT.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A BUNCH OF STUFF THAT
WE WERE HOPING TO TRY AND LIFT,
AND WE THOUGHT MAYBE YOU COULD HELP US.
LET'S DO IT. I'M READY.
ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD.
OUR GOAL IS TO SEE HOW MUCH WE CAN LIFT
WITH OUR EXTREMELY POWERFUL MAGNET.
FIRST UP, NICK SHOWS OFF THE FORCE
WE CAN'T SEE WITH 5,000 PAPER CLIPS.
YOU SPILLED SOME PAPER CLIPS.
I KNOW, BUT I THINK THIS'LL CLEAN IT UP.
OOH! THEY'RE ALL STANDING UP ON EACH OTHER.
LOOK AT THEM CLIMBING ON EACH OTHER.
OOH!
Delaney: WE'RE TAKING
SCIENCE TO THE JUNKYARD.
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU FIND A MAGNET LIKE THIS?
♪♪
Kohler: OOH! DUDE! THEY'RE ALL
STANDING UP ON EACH OTHER.
LOOK AT THEM CLIMBING ON EACH OTHER.
OOH!
THAT'S AWESOME.
♪♪
GOT SOME GOOD HIGH SPEED TO THIS THING.
-ALL RIGHT, COOL. -YEAH.
HERE. -OH, MAN.
Kohler: IT'S COOL, WHEN IT
FIRST STARTS TO ATTRACT THEM,
THEY ALL KIND OF SHIMMER
AND STAND UP ALL AT ONCE.
Delaney: THEY LOOK
EXCITED TO GET IN THE AIR.
THE PAPER CLIPS JUST
TAKE ON A LIFE OF THEIR OWN.
THE PAPER CLIPS ARE ESPECIALLY COOL,
BECAUSE THEY CREATED
THIS SHAPE, LIKE AN ARCH,
THAT REPRESENTED THE PATTERN
THAT THE MAGNETIC FIELD MAKES.
Delaney: YOU CAN REALLY SEE THIS EFFECT
AS DARREN SHOOTS THE PAPER
CLIPS CLIMBING OUT OF A HUGE PUDDLE.
♪♪
NEXT, SOME CAST-IRON PANS.
INDESTRUCTIBLE IN THE KITCHEN,
BUT CAN THEY STAND UP TO
OUR GIANT ELECTROMAGNET?
OOH!
THAT WAS AWESOME.
NOW, HOW ABOUT KEVIN'S 1,400-POUND SAFE?
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
IS IT GONNA PICK IT UP?
All: [ Chanting ] LIFT!
LIFT! LIFT! LIFT! LIFT!
OH, YEAH!
AN ELECTROMAGNET IS
BASICALLY A BIG PIECE OF IRON
WITH A COPPER COIL WRAPPED
ALL THE WAY AROUND IT.
WHEN YOU PUSH ELECTRICITY
THROUGH THAT COPPER COIL,
IT CREATES A MAGNETIC FIELD,
AND THAT IRON CORE
AMPLIFIES THE MAGNETIC FIELD
AND MAKES IT EVEN STRONGER.
SO YOU CAN MAKE A GIANT ELECTROMAGNET
THAT YOU CAN TURN ON AND OFF
AND MAKE MORE POWERFUL
AS YOU NEED TO PICK UP
HEAVIER AND HEAVIER STUFF.
AND IT MAKES IT REALLY
USEFUL IN A SETTING LIKE THIS
FOR PICKING UP BIG PIECES OF SCRAP METAL.
THINK YOU CAN CRUSH THAT BARREL?
OH, MY GOD!
-WHOA! -YEAH!
Kohler: NICELY DONE.
THAT WAS SWEET.
DUDE, OH, MAN!
THE ONE WHEEL JUST WENT RIGHT THROUGH IT.
IT BROKE THE WHEEL OFF.
-DID IT REALLY? -YEAH.
Dyk: SO I GOT SOME HIGH SPEED ON THIS.
-YEAH? -OH, WOW.
JUST CRUMPLES IT.
SO YOU COULD SEE RIGHT HERE AS THE SAFE
IS IMPACTING THE BARREL,
LOOK AT THE BASE OF
BARREL, JUST HOW MUCH, LIKE,
FORCE IS BEING, LIKE,
DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND.
LIKE, THAT LOOKS REALLY TIGHT.
♪♪
Delaney: NEXT, WE WANT TO CHALLENGE
ROB'S MASTERY OF THIS GIANT MAGNET.
HOW ADEPT IS HIS TOSSING SKILL?
LET'S FIND OUT.
GO FOR IT.
ALL DEPENDS ON THAT SWING.
OH, HERE WE GO!
-HEY! -YAY!
NICE SHOT!
♪♪
-WHOA! -WHOO!
SO, KEVIN, WHAT DO YOU
KEEP IN THIS SAFE ANYWAY?
NO, DON'T WORRY, I'LL SEND FOR IT.
ALL RIGHT.