Paris (AFP)
The magnet that holds on a fridge, the effect "mountain" home bikes, induction hobs ... it's not magic but magnetism: the proof in sixty experience at the Palace of discovery in Paris.
"We are looking for the public with the physics of everyday life, the magnet that sticks to the fridge, little by little, with a story, to bring them to the research," explains Hélène Fisher, a researcher at the Jean- Lamour, scientific designer and producer of the exhibition "Magnétique" (until May 2020).
In five islands, visitors (over 12 years old) discover the different properties and usefulness of magnetism via simple questions: "Where to find it? How to explain it? What for?" All while avoiding conscientiously the question "what is magnetism?", Too frontal and above all too intimidating.
"At each experience, the visitor understands something that serves him to approach the manipulation after," says Clémentine Bouyé, scientific director of the Palais de la découverte.
The public is invited to test the intensity of the repulsion forces of magnets, to visualize a magnetic field using iron powder or to "dance" a ferrofluid, a liquid solution that contains metal, at the same time. using a microphone "which passes sound vibrations into an electrical signal".
The origin of the magnetic properties of materials is approached by "zooming inside a magnet" to visualize the organization of the atoms between them.
Visitors are also invited to send wind into the blades of a mini wind turbine which, by rotating a magnet in a coil, produces electricity. And discover the principle of eddy current retarders "used in exercise bikes to brake the wheels and give us the impression of climbing a hill," says Elise Schubert, scientific director of the Palais de la découverte.
The exhibition, which opens its doors Tuesday, also dissects the operation of our induction plates, the coding of our computers which takes place on a magnetic support and the research in progress at the Jean-Lamour Institute (originally exposure) to make new materials with new properties.
"The idea is not to make great maneuvers, to throw the gun in the eyes, but to explain, otherwise it's magic!" Notes Hélène Fisher who since 2011 "with his car and lots of material "goes" in front of people, young people in particular, to make you want, to make a click ".
© 2019 AFP