Buckyball fullerene from neodymium supermagnet spheres

MAGNET SALE AT MR. GEORGE! http://www.supermagnetman.net/index.php?cPath=43 He's got 8mm sp1000 spheres for $0.30, sp0701 silver for $0.34

See http://amasci.com/amateur/neospher.html Here's the trick to rapidly assembling a buckyball from sixty supermagnet beads.

Note that this isn't a true Buckminster Fullerene, since magnets are dipoles while carbon atoms are quadrupoles. True buckyballs have hexagons and pentagons, while ours has squares and is slightly smaller.

The big challenge: start with two pentagons, then assemble two hemispheres. (This is how it happens in nature.) Then knit the two hemispheres seamlessly together, trapping a glass marble or other gigantic ionized metal atom within. It's harder than it looks!

Note: Trolls & spammers blocked immediately. Zero tolerance.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• amasci
• science
• magnets
• physics
• buckyball
• buckyballs
• neo
• neodymium
• supermagnet
• supermagnets
• sphere
• puzzle
• spheres
• beads

[lilslayamasta]

This is incorrectly done. Buckyballs have no two adjacent pentagonal "faces", while in your model you use ONLY pentagons.

[wbeaty]

@lilslayamasta Magnets are only stable in this form, (try constructing a carbon fullerene and you'll see the problem!) Sphere magnets have only two poles, while carbon has four bonds at tetrahedral angles. Carbon chains are zigzag, C60 molecules exhibit hexes and pents, while these magnets form hexes and squares.

Clearly magnets with quadrupole magnetization are needed!

[damndamn1234]

this is pretty random but im trying to buy one and i have a question... how is the durability??

[wbeaty]

> durability?

On cheaper ones the coating eventually flakes off at the spots where they grind together. Chrome plating is stronger than nickel or silver. On larger ones like 8mm and with higher strength neo, the problem is worse because the force between spheres is larger.

[willisz]

i bet 10 bucks he's holding the cam with the mouth.

[wbeaty]

> holding the cam with the mouth.

@willisz Someone finally noticed! :)

But during the vid I can talk at the same time, because actually I was using my chin to clamp the cam against my neck. It was pure luck that the aiming was OK.

[dbaliki918]

@wbeaty I was able to create C60 fullerene with pentagonal AND hexagonal sides using buckyballs. It's actually not that hard.

[wingslo]

that looks kinda bulky i bet it's heavy

[DrayFan12]

neocube balls are smaller and packs come with more, ut i like these better

[loganharned]

not as cool as Neocubes

[retro12358]

@legojesus777 +durrr he has to make it look good or it wont sell

[DANKIDYD]

Can you make jewelry with it?

[legojesus777]

Thumbs up that 0:01 he took a foto for the cover of is video

[bubbleheadft]

@wbeaty My brain hurts now. :(