Abstract :
In 1979, when I was 11 and enthralled by Star Wars, magnetism held a special appeal. It was the closest thing in the real world to "the Force." So for our fifth-grade science project, a friend and I wrapped my dad??s iron chisel with wire to make an electromagnet. When connected to a lantern battery, it grabbed, repulsed, and spun bar magnets like magic. But when we got curious and plugged it into a wall socket, the resulting pop and puff of smoke produced an unforgettable jolt. " The experience sparked a lasting fascination with magnetism. So when my son Liam, contemplating what to make for his own fifth-grade science fair, suggested making a magnetic levitation gizmo, I was irresistibly drawn to the idea. " The project turned out to be surprisingly challenging. Initially, we envisioned some simple circuitry that would make a miniature space ship from Star Trek (actually a Christmastree ornament) hover with no strings attached. How hard could it be?
