Magnetic Levitation: Does it Work?

#magnets #Electromagnet #experiment #tech #physics #diy #foryou #electronics #magnet

[asdf]

Earnshaw's theorem isn't really applicable here, and there is an equilibrium configuraration. Earnshaw's theorem applies to point-charges without the influence of any other external forces. In this case however there is gravity and the force that the table exerts on the magnet and with those you can put those two magnets in equilibrium by _perfectly_ aligning them. However this is not a stable equilibrium, but collapses on slight pertubations which is why this configuration isn't stable in practise. This is still considered an equilibrium though.

[mitch]

You need a structure to prevent the upper magnet from flipping over such as a rod running through a hole in the magnet. The company I worked for made maglev by suspending the electromagnet above the one to be levitated and using a sensor that gave position feedback so the force could be varied to keep the object levitated at a given height. There was also a circuit to dampen the oscillation.

[donaldasayers]

Earnshaw's theorem only applies to the static situation, a spinning magnet can be made to hover in mid air over another magnet, a toy demonstrating this effect is sold.

[OldCurmudgeonDP]

Using AC and a coil of wire, a demo in college was able to levitate AL doughnuts. A strong pulsed magnetic field from a coil will also launch non-ferrous metals at moderate velocities.

[magicbox]

Picking up hundreds of pounds of steel with one of these always made me nervous.

[Noconstitutionfordemocrats]

There's a giant mountain top right at the center of the configuration.

Now, put the bottom magnet on a rotating disk that orbits the center of top magnet.

[ActionAdventureTwins]

I was tasked with making a dinosaur diorama at school and I definitely had a vision of a floating Pterodactyl supported by magnets. It didn't work.

[lpjunction]

A simple magnet would not work.
But a compound magnet might do the job.
Put 10 small magnet around a bigger magnet.
Arrange the magnet to repel the 10 small magnet so it levitates and use the attraction of the center magnet to hold it in equilibrium position.

[steveengelmann]

You can use static electricity to make styrofoam float between two paper plates

[antoleyo]

I once inserted 2 long magnets into a pyrex pipe that was installed vertically. Levitation may occur. Pyrex pipes as rails for both magnets to keep them from scrambling.

[inues]

You could also just use a tube that barely fits the magnets. A clear one would be best for the video.

[ScienceMadeFunner]

It’s like we are wrong about a static magnetic field. Maybe there not static

[amyshaw]

Given maglev trains exist, im going to go with yes

[moomeuh]

really interesting! I would love a more in-depth video about sustenance

[timyee]

Freeze one magnet with liquid nitrogen, ez fix 😂😂

[yeshuaQ]

7th energy using alloy is brilliant static levitation energy in profile enjoy

[EngineeringAdjacent]

how many cycles/ second? could you do this with say a 555 timer and transistor, or do you need an oscilator?

[Itsdirtnaptime]

I'm going to have to try something, but I feel like you could do that with 2 magnets and not need that electro magnet. (However, screw that. Electromagnet are cool for other reasons.)

[frandukie]

Supercool the magnets and it should work better

[YSPACElabs]

Those small Chinese electromagnets don't work very well for magnetic levitation (probably because the field doesn't extend very far and the levitating magnet is attracted to the metal at too close of a distance. I have made one work though, but only with an extremely fast feedback loop.