The device sure looks like an electromagnet made with magnet wire and a steel core. But when he shows the ends of the core, you’ll see that the side that attracts aluminum has a copper ring ...

Magnets aren't attracted to copper, but when the two come together they can appear to defy gravity. Download the Magnetic Copper PDF (384 Kb). Adobe Acrobat is required. SAFETY: Neodymium magnets ...

such as aluminum or copper. If this is the case, the magnet will not be attracted to the item even if it is not pure brass. So, a magnet can help you quickly rule out some brass-plated pieces ...

Steel contains iron, so a steel paperclip will be attracted to a magnet too. Most other metals, for example aluminium, copper and gold, are NOT magnetic.