276 A. M. Mayer—Experiments with Floating Magnets. 
Art. XL.—A note on Experiments with floating Magnets ; showing 
the motions and arrangements in a plane of freely moving bodes, 
acted on by forces of attraction and repulsion ; and serving in 
the study of the directions and motions of the lines of magnetic 
force ; by ALFRED M. Mayer. 
For one of my little books of the Experimental Science 
Series I have devised a system of experiments which illustrate 
the action of atomic forces, and the atomic arrangement in 
‘molecules, in so pleasing a manner, that I think these experi- 
ments should be known to those interested in the study and 
teaching of physics. 
A 
Four floating needles take these two forms 
Five a“ a“ “c “i “ 4“ 
.* 
Six ab “ sé nm ae ti F 
. 
Seven “ “ sb “we ““ 
I have obtained the figures up to the combination of twenty 
ree needles. Some of these forms are stable; others are 
unstable, and are sent into the stable forms by vibration. 
hese experiments can be varied without end. It is cer- 
tainly interesting to see the mutual effect of two or more 
