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Soda Bottle Magnetometers Student Guide

A split image, with a left half and a right half. The left half shows an empty soda bottle sitting on the bottom of a small, open-topped cardboard box. A laser pointer is aimed at an apparatus hanging inside the bottle, which deflects the laser dot to the side wall of the box. The right image shows a more complicated apparatus for investigating magnetic fields, parts labeled.
A demonstration of what the homemade magnetometer might look like after following the instructions in this guide.
NASA HEAT / Dr. Sten Odenwald
Levels
  • Introductory (K-5)
Material Type
  • Activity/Hands-on
Heliophysics Big Ideas
  • Big Idea 1.2 – The Sun is active…
NGSS
  • ESS2 - Earth's Systems
Heliophysics Topics
  • Electromagnetism
  • Electromagnetic Spectrum
  • Magnetic Field
Heliophysics Missions
  • Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS)
  • Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)
  • Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)
  • Solar Orbiter
Material Cost per Learner $1 – $5
Language English

This activity provides directions for how to build and use a simple suspended-magnet magnetometer to detect changes in Earth’s magnetic field during strong solar storms. This device costs under $5.00 and demonstrates the basic principles of how magnetometers operate.

Downloads

Soda Bottle
Magnetometer
Student Guide

Jul 15, 2025

PDF (2.23 MB)