How many of these items do you already have? We've tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do.

Don’t be afraid of this shopping list! The materials are broken down by availability and expense, and you can order online. The items in the first list are low-cost materials you already have or can easily add to your next grocery store list. The next lists include mid-priced equipment for more in-depth projects, and the last list of items is appropriate for upper grades.

We’ll be re-using these items for Units 12 and beyond (like motors, lights, battery packs, wires, and electrical components).

Shopping List for Unit 11: Magnetism: Click here for Shopping List for Unit 11.

NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.

Basic Magnetism

• Compass (at least one, but more is better)
• Needle or thin nail
• Cork or foam piece
• Cup (non-metal)
• Shallow baking dish (non-metal)
• Caps from water bottles or milk jugs
• 2 strong magnets (KJ Magnetics)
• Assortment of magnets, one larger than the rest
• Iron filings (you can take a metal file to a nail)
• Disposable plate
• Paper and pencil
• Magnet wire
• 8 donut-shaped magnets
• Packing peanuts (about 10)
• Film canisters (2)
• Long nails (2)
• Sand paper (small 2" x 2" piece, fine grit)
• D-cell battery
• Bare wire OR aluminum foil
• 2 large paper clips
• 1 rubber band
• String (3’)
• Tape, scissors
• Optional: Clay (small piece)

Ferrofluid

• Old laser printer cartridge (get these for free from a place that recycles them, like an office supply store)
• Oil – vegetable or baby oil (only a few teaspoons)
• Popsicle stick and disposable cup

Ultra-Cool Magnet Projects

In addition to the items from Basic Magnetism, you'll need these items from Unit 10: Electricity:

• 4 AA battery packs
• 8 AA batteries (preferably NOT alkaline but rather the cheap ‘heavy duty’ dollar-store type)
• LEDs (Bipolar or Tristate)
• Buzzer
• 3VDC motor
• 10 alligator clip leads

AND you'll also need:

• Small paper clips
• Empty soup can or 2 large paper clips
• 6 large paper clips
• 4 brass fasteners
• 12VDC motor
• Wooden ruler with groove down the center
• 8 strong rubber bands
• 9 nickel-plated ball bearings (NSBA)
• Four ½” metal plated cubes (B888)
• Screw (at least 1½” long)
• 5 disc magnets (DC2)
• Aluminum sheet (like a cookie sheet)
• Reed switch
• Two large grapes
• Straw
• String (3’)
• Sticky tape (Scotch Magic tape works well)

For Advanced Students:

Buzzer:

• DPDT Relay 

Curie Engine:

• Two tiny bead magnets (R211 and/or R311)
• One ceramic magnet
• Thin wire (28-32g)
• Votive candle and lighter (keep out of reach)

Rail Accelerator:

• 9V battery clip & 9V battery
• Aluminum foil (3’ length)
• Posterboard
• 1 wire coat-hanger (not insulated)
• Two disc magnets (D21)
• Two metal-plated disc magnets (D41G)
• Vice grips or cutters (to cut a wire coat hanger)

Listening to Magnetism

• Bolt (2 ½” long and ¼” diameter) and 2 washers and a nut that fits the bolt
• Amplified Speaker (iPod Speaker) from the Laser Communicator in Unit 9.
• Audio plug
• Wire
• Strong magnet (borrow one of the ½” metal plated cubes from above list)
• Cookie sheet (made from steel, not aluminum)

Speakers

You’ll be making three different kinds of speakers here. If you haven't made these yet from Unit 6, NOW is the time to make them. Here's what you need:

• Foam plate (paper and plastic don’t work as well)
• Sheet of copy paper
• 3 business cards
• Magnet wire
• 2 neodymium magnets (DA4)
• 1” donut magnet
• Index cards or stiff paper
• Plastic disposable cup (not paper)
• Tape
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• 1 audio plug or other cable that fits into your boombox (iPODs and expensive stereos are not recommended for this project, as they will be damaged by the low resistance of the speakers)