Lou-Anne and the Magnetic Mystery

It all started when Lou-Anne received a very official-looking envelope from the local high school.

“Special Invitation,” she read aloud under the marula tree. “Physics Discovery Day. All curious minds welcome.”

Vakawu leaned over her shoulder. “What is physics? Does it involve bananas?”

“No,” Lou-Anne laughed. “It’s about how the world works. Forces. Energy. Space. Magnets.”

M’Pofo’s ears lifted. “Magnets?”

“Yes,” Lou-Anne said. “They can pull metal without touching it.”

Ubejane narrowed his eyes. “That sounds suspicious.”

The next morning, the entire crew travelled to the high school science lab. The students there had never seen a rhinoceros enter a classroom before, but everyone agreed it made the day more interesting.

Their teacher, Mr Keller, smiled nervously but bravely. “Welcome to Physics Discovery Day.”

The lab tables were covered with measuring cylinders, water tanks, metal spheres, rulers, and shiny horseshoe magnets.

“Today,” Mr Keller announced, “we will explore volume and magnetism.”

Vakawu whispered, “I already have volume,” and clapped his hands loudly. Everyone shushed him.

Lesson One: Volume

Mr Keller placed a large clear tank of water on the table.

“If I put this metal ball into the water,” he said, “what happens?”

“It sinks,” Kiera said confidently.

“Yes. But look carefully.”

He gently lowered the metal ball into the tank. The water level rose.

M’Pofo gasped. “The water moved!”

“Exactly,” Mr Keller said. “The ball takes up space. That space is called volume. The water rises because the ball pushes it out of the way.”

Lou-Anne’s eyes sparkled. “So everything has volume? Even air?”

“Correct.”

Ubejane stepped forward proudly. “Then I have a lot of volume.”

The class burst out laughing.

They tried it themselves. Lou-Anne carefully measured water before and after placing stones inside. M’Pofo used his trunk to gently lower larger objects into a bucket. Vakawu dropped one too quickly and splashed everyone.

“Volume confirmed!” he shouted, dripping.

Even Marmalade participated. When he stepped into a shallow tray of water, the level rose ever so slightly.

Mr Keller smiled. “Even small creatures have measurable volume.”

Marmalade looked very proud.

Lesson Two: Magnets

Mr Keller held up a shiny red horseshoe magnet.

“This,” he said dramatically, “is a magnet.”

He held it near a paperclip.

Without touching it, the paperclip jumped up and stuck to the magnet.

Vakawu screamed. “It’s alive!”

“It’s magnetic force,” Lou-Anne explained.

They experimented. Some objects jumped to the magnet. Others did nothing at all.

“Metal works,” Dassie observed.

“Not all metal,” Mr Keller corrected. “Only certain types, like iron.”

Ubejane stepped closer. “Will it stick to my horn?”

They tried carefully.

Nothing happened.

Ubejane looked relieved. “Good. I prefer not being collectible.”

Then M’Pofo discovered something fascinating. When he placed two magnets near each other, one side pulled together—but when he flipped one around, they pushed apart.

“They’re fighting!” Vakawu declared.

“No,” Lou-Anne said thoughtfully. “They’re repelling. Opposite poles attract. Same poles repel.”

Mr Keller nodded proudly. “You’re thinking like physicists.”

The Big Discovery

At the end of the lesson, Lou-Anne gathered her friends.

“So today we learned that everything takes up space,” she said, “and invisible forces can move things.”

M’Pofo lifted the magnet carefully with his trunk. “The world has secrets we cannot see.”

“And that,” said Mr Keller, “is what physics is all about.”

As they left the high school, the students waved excitedly. It had been the most unusual physics class in history.

Ubejane walked thoughtfully. “I still don’t trust magnets.”

Vakawu grinned. “I want one.”

Lou-Anne smiled. “Science is just another adventure. The Savannah works by the same rules as the classroom.”

Marmalade trotted ahead confidently.

After all, even a cat has volume.

And possibly magnetism.