A FUN SCIENCE TOY FOR KIDS!: BUZZING STUNT MAGNETS/SIZZLE MAGNETS

Prof. Dr. Dhrubo Jyoti Sen*

Torpedo magnets make their buzzing or singing sound due to vibrations caused by their attraction and repulsion forces when they are released from a separated state. The narrow, aerodynamic shape of the torpedo magnets facilitates this rapid and chaotic clashing as they seek a stable, aligned magnetic state, creating high-pitched, rattling sounds as they repeatedly collide and separate in the air or on a low-friction surface.
The Mechanism:
Separation: You hold two torpedo magnets apart (e.g., using your fingers to keep a small gap).
Attraction and Release: When you release the magnets, their strong attraction pulls them together.
Collision and Repulsion: Because of their torpedo shape, they don't just stick together. Instead, they collide and try to align their poles.
Vibration and Clashing: The rapid cycle of clashing, separating, and realigning creates high-frequency vibrations.
Sound Production: These vibrations produce a distinctive clattering, buzzing, or "singing" sound, similar to a bird's chirp or a rattlesnake's rattle.
Shape: The narrow, elongated, or ellipsoidal shape of torpedo magnets is crucial, as it allows them to "wrestle" for alignment rather than simply snapping together, maximizing the time they spend clashing and buzzing.
Strong Magnetism: The magnets are highly magnetized, creating strong forces that cause them to interact vigorously.
Minimal Contact: The shape is designed for minimal contact and maximum opportunity for clashing during the initial collision and subsequent movements.