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Magneitc Levitation
Name: A. J.
Status: student
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001-2002
Question:
A friend and I are doing a science experiment on
levitation. We are trying to build a small levitating machine for class.
I have read that it can be done using electro magnetism or using
superconductor. Is this true? Where can we find instructions on how to
build it?
How long does the levitation last? Is it minutes, hours, days, years,
etc.?
Replies:
I believe that this demonstration is available from Edmund's Scientific
Inc. You can find their Web site on the Internet.
Vince Calder
Hi, A. J. !!
A class of materials named superconductors block the
passage of a magnetic field. Just suppose you have a
magnetic field and - over it - a superconductor. As the
superconductor does not accept the magnetic field, the
superconductor will be repealed and "fluctuates" in the
air, or "levitates". And this last forever, assuming that
these conditions maintain.
I am not sure about the process it is used to get the
superconductor, but I believe it is used liquid nitrogen
or - better - liquid helium (-270 C).
Sorry, but I am not in conditions to give you tips on how
to build it !!! Look for information about this on :
http://www.webcom.com/cfsc/scpart1.html
Here you will find instructions on how to produce
and use a ceramic high temperature superconductor
based on Ytrium-Barium-Copper-Oxyde or also :
http://www.chemsoc.org/exemplarchem/entries/igrant/making_noflash.html
Regards
Alcir Grohmann
Levitation can be done with electromagnets, permanent magnets or
superconductors.
One has to generate a magnetic field such that the poles are similar, ie;
N-N or S-S.
A superconductor is ideal since it mirrors the magnetic field of anything
that it "feels".
I am not familiar with any instruction booklet on the construction of a
levitating device, however several years ago many of the scientific supply
houses sold superconductors and magnets which provided a nice levitation
experiment. One required liquid nitrogen so that the superconducting
material would actually be in a superconducting state.
How long does levitation last? As long as you want, if you provide the
energy in the form of current to the electromagnets or liquid nitrogen to
the superconducting material, then the levitating device can last forever.
Dr. Harold Myron
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