This is an interesting experience I saw at http://www.grand-illusions.com/gaussian%20gun.htm
[img:861888bf18]http://www.grand-illusions.com/images/gaussian%20gun.jpg[/img:861888bf18]
Very slowly, you roll the loose ball bearing towards the magnets. As it approaches the magnets, it and the magnets are pulled together sharply, since these are very strong magnets. And as a result, rather like that Newton's Cradle executive toy we used to see a few years ago, the end ball bearing shoots off at a surprisingly high velocity.

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Enjoy the fun of Physics! You can access this simulation online from
gaussian gun
Designed by Fu-Kwun Hwang (http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/)
Deptartment of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan