May 27, 2007, 11:00 PM
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#1 of 16
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I believe what's really at work with the ball bearings is what's called "Lenz's law".
When you have a changing magnetic field it creates a current in the ball. Lenz's law says that the ball wants to remain neutral so it induces a current to oppose the one from the magnet. But just as magnetic fields give rise to currents so do currents to magnetic fields, thus the two balls become attracted. I waved my hand over the explanation a bit, but I believe that's what's at work.
As for gravity making all objects accelerate at the same rate that one's a lot simpler to explain. Gravity is a force which simultaneously acts on all atoms in a substance.
Think of a pickup truck. If your speedometer reads 60 mph with a 100lb payload, the payload travels at 60 mph. Same thing with a 200lb payload etc. If you think of it this way it's a bit easier to grasp.
Jam it back in, in the dark.
Last edited by Hotobu; May 27, 2007 at 11:03 PM.
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Hotobu