Magnets play a key role in the newest and most popular fashion
sensation. The results of the innovative
magnetic nail polish are largely accredited to the physics of a magnetic
pull. In most cases, you apply two coats
of the nail polish. The first is left
alone and then the second coat is heavily applied once the first application
has dried. Before the second coat dries,
you hold a magnet over your nail for
about ten seconds and the results are shown below.
Photo taken from: http://www.thelooksforless.com/2011/09/12/manicure-mondays-layla-magnetic-nail-polish-review-tutorial/
The appearance of this nail polish
changes based on the magnet used. This
is because each magnet has differently arranged atoms. Although the nature of a magnet is not
completely understood, scientists believe that each of the millions of atoms that
make up a metal have their own separate magnetic charge. Magnets have both north and south poles. The magnets pull towards each other when
opposite poles are facing each other (north and south), but when the same sides
of two magnets are pointed together (such as the two south sides), the magnets
will refuse to come in contact. The
atoms of an unmagnetized metal are facing in many different directions. In a magnetized metal, all the atoms are
pointing in the same direction.
Iron is not an initially magnetized
metal, but if held up to a magnet, it will turn into one itself. When the south end of a magnet is held up to
iron, the north end of the magnetic atoms inside of the iron material will pull
towards the magnet. This reaction makes the iron magnetic, and is seen in the
magnetic nail polish.
The nail polish contains iron powder
with minuscule iron filings, each of which is turned into a little magnet. They
either repel or attract the original magnet and each other. The filings inside the nail polish are what
create the unmistakable pattern. They move
around each other until the magnet used is removed. The magnet applied, the
arrangement of the powder, and the position of the magnet above the nail will generate
a slightly unique pattern.
