Is this 1950s? DIY project online anywhere? My google-fu is failing.
I first encountered it as a library-nerd in 1970s grade school. The device was a 120VAC electromagnet version of a pot-magnet with the iron shell for med from bent wires, and with a thin Cu/Al plate fastened against the outsi de face of the coil. It lifts flat pieces of nonferrous metals by inductio n. While the copper plate would be repelled, *two* copper plates have curr ents induced in the same direction, and attract each other. So, we can fas ten a copper plate to an AC electromagnet, and let it pick up flat pieces o f copper. Or any nonferrous plate.
These below are online, and I *thought* one of them had the project. I gue ss it's in one I haven't found yet. I think the title was something like "
3rd book of boys electricity" or similar.American Boys Book Of Electricity
Harper's electricity book for boys
Electricity for Boys
Note the warning in the last one! So, a serious recommendation? Heh.
"WARNING: This book of one hundred years ago describes experiments which are too dangerous to attempt by either adults or children. It is published for historical interest only."
--------------- A bit more:
"You can see that I am working with aluminum. And at first a niobium magnet . And then repulsing the aluminum washers with an electromagnet. And in the second movie I use another magnet design in that book, to actually lift al uminum washers that are really not effected by the niobium magnet."