250g neodymium magnet can support metal the weight of a giant panda

Categories: Comparisons

An example of an everyday comparison used to give a sense of scale:

"And they could only do that due to the extraordinary rare earth metal used in the magnets: neodymium. It's this that gives the magnets their power. How strong? Well, a magnet weighing half a pound can support metal the weight of a giant panda."

Episode ('The super magnets') of BBC radio programme/podcast 'The Scramble for Rare Earths'

Read about quotidian comparisons

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.