[insightandlearningParticipant]

I was able to reproduce this experiment using the horseshoe magnet as described: it did not hold the paperclip. However, we naturally tried the bar magnet afterwards to see that it did work. And then, tried the horseshoe magnet again, finding that now it did hold the paperclip. I think that the bar magnet aligns the domains of the tin can and imparts some magnetism much like the chain of paperclips, which is why when the horseshoe magnet is used again it is able to hold the paperclip. I tried to hitting the tin can to “undo” its magnetism to no avail. But, I was able to replicate the same results with a fresh can.

[Author]

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