Class+1-+Animals+and+Magnetism+3

Class 1 - Animals and Magnetism

Animals and magnetism: Monarch butterflies!  Butterflies migrate from our very state all the way to Texas and Mexico! But wait... butterflies only live for about 2 weeks, and lets be honest.... even when your flying at about 5 mph it would take more then a week or so. So how do they do it? We found out!Now to enter the world of Monarch butterflies and magnetism so YOU can find out!

Monarch Butterflies DO use a sun compass to tell directions, but what if that fails? what if its night? What if the cloud blocks the sun? What if its raining out?Butterflies also have a magnetic compass in their brain. This is proven by scientists.

 They zapped butterflies in their magnetism and they became disoriented. Butterflies have crypto chromes that are sensitive to magnetic fields, which is how they can tell where they are. Where ever a butterflies compass points, it flies the other way. When put in a room shielded from the magnetic field, the butterflies flew in all different directions. When it is not shielded, they all flew in the same direction-South!

Our experiences: Hailey: I once saw a big flock of butterflies while my mom brother and I were driving, and i'm pretty sure now they were migrating! Hero: I saw in a video of science a lobster being moved by just magnets, and that's what the scientists we read about did. Eric: I saw in a few videos butterflies flying in their migration, they flocked on trees at night because they usually use a sun compass, but their back up is a magnetic compass, and then use it if they HAVE to fly at night or if its cloudy. media type="custom" key="22383090" width="220" height="1.5; height: 220"