Magnetodynamics:
A Novel, Powerful Rare Earth Magnetic Array Exhibiting An Asymmetrical
Flux Pattern
Exhibitors: Nicholas Neighbors and Gus Bates
School Name: Neighbors Home School
Purpose: Permanent magnets commonly produce a symmetrical magnetic flux pattern from each pole. If a magnetic array could be designed, engineered and constructed that exhibited an asymmetric flux pattern it would be useful in industrial or research applications that required magnetic flux focused, shaped towards, or concentrated in certain specific regions.
Procedure: A magnetic array model was designed in 3D software. The magnetic array was visualized to possess axially magnetized, cylindrically shaped, grade 42 neodymium boron permanent magnets in a magnetically unbalanced configuration. Fiberglass threaded rod and glass filled polyurethane nuts were used throughout to eliminate any metal with the intention of preventing any undesirable effects such as eddy currents. Glass fiber epoxy tubes were crafted and fastened inside a mold constructed of polyethylene, plaster of paris and glass fiber epoxy. A composite mixture of epoxy with aramid fiber was used to fill the mold and construct the model.
Data: Dr. Markert at UT Physics Dept. was kind enough to allow us to use his laboratory and equipment. 324 measurements of magnetic flux for the array were taken at equidistance points around the circumference of the most active focal point of the array using a hall sensor. The data was analyzed to show that indeed, the magnetic flux of the array was distributed asymmetrically.
A three dimensional backlit flux viewing chamber was created to display the flux patterns of the magnet array, and a large magnetic earth compass with integral electroswitch & 24 LED array was constructed to show that the magnetic array could overcome the earth's magnetic field at no less than 5.5 feet.
Conclusions: A novel, tunable magnetic array which exhibits an asymmetric flux pattern is now realized for further research and industrial use.
It was a great honor to be selected to exhibit at the All State Science fair. This was the "best of the best" and we were proud to be there rubbing shoulders with the finest. A team of two 8th graders from Dallas was no more than 10 feet away with a double tall poster board. Their project was on robotics with lot's of C++ coding, the level of sophistication was awesome. We really thought they had 1st place in the bag.
Our first judges were normal and we had a reasonable question/answer session - - - - and then later a second judge appeared and asked something about the 5 laws of ?, and mentioned a scientists name Michael ? In any case we were stumped and thought we had blown the entire event. Only later did we discover this same judge was going around stumping everybody - - in the final analysis days later we guessed they must have discarded his opinions.
Mother, Grandmother and Grandfather did not come to the award ceremony on Monday morning and my Mother forbid me to leave school on that Monday. My team member Gus Bates called my Dad and offered to go to San Antonio to the awards ceremony. I heard through my Dad that a young professor played Chuck Berry's song "Johny Be Good" on a tiny electric guitar on stage. He was upside down in splits with the guitar on top of his head and was ripping off licks. Then he went into moonwalks and the students went wild.
I also heard that Gus was the naysayer during the awards ceremony really feeling we had failed to answer the "trick" question of the second judge. But my Dad said that when our names were called Gus exploded from his chair to go up to the staging area to claim the trophies. Again my Dad expected 5th or 4th place at best, he later admitted his life sort of passed before him as the names were called from 5th up to 1st place, and we were stunned by being awarded 1st.
Arrival:
A scrollable 1200 pixel of our exhibit polished and prepped for All State:
Two 8th graders from Dallas had
their exhibit only 10 feet from
us. We
thought they had 1st place "in the bag".
The fellow on the right had coded their project in C++. As it turned out they were awarded 3rd place. Later my Dad felt compelled to express his admiration of the robotics project and our thoughts that they really had 1st place "in the bag" to the Father of the C++ student as he was taking down the project after the awards. He just shot back rather sharply that they had won so many awards with this project
it wasn't really an issue:
Bottom perspective view of our magnetic array
Side perspective view of our magnetic array
Name badges made for my Grandparents for the science fair:
UTSA website details our
achievements
Gus Bates accepts both medals from Dr. George Perry,
famous neurosurgeon and Dean of the College of Sciences UTSA
Dad had my medal framed:
I was invited to be recognized by the EANES ISD Board of Trustees and Superintendent Dr. Nola H. Wellman
for my achievments in science on the evening of 4-29-2010
The fellow on the right had coded their project in C++. As it turned out they were awarded 3rd place. Later my Dad felt compelled to express his admiration of the robotics project and our thoughts that they really had 1st place "in the bag" to the Father of the C++ student as he was taking down the project after the awards. He just shot back rather sharply that they had won so many awards with this project
it wasn't really an issue:
Bottom perspective view of our magnetic array
Side perspective view of our magnetic array
Name badges made for my Grandparents for the science fair:
UTSA website details our
achievementsGus Bates accepts both medals from Dr. George Perry,
famous neurosurgeon and Dean of the College of Sciences UTSA
Dad had my medal framed:
I was invited to be recognized by the EANES ISD Board of Trustees and Superintendent Dr. Nola H. Wellman
for my achievments in science on the evening of 4-29-2010