Ferro-fluid sculpture

Posted by Dan on Apr 7th, 2008
2008
Apr 7

A ferro-fluid consists of magnetic nano-particles suspended in a liquid. The particles are small enough that Brownian motion keeps them from settling to the bottom. If you apply a magnetic field, the particles will move. Surface tension keeps the particles from jumping out of the liquid, so the particles drag the liquid along with them.

Here there are two metal cones standing in a pool of ferro-fluid. Each cone has an electromagnet under it, to create a variable magnetic field.