Category Archives: Levitation

Diamagnetism with Pyrolytic Graphite Levitation

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Sail a magnetic sea

Diamagnetic levitation with pyrolytic graphite

Sail a magnetic sea with diamagnetic levitation. Diamagnetism causes pyrolytic graphite to levitate.  This floats around with less than 1 mm gap above a 13 x 13 array of 5 mm magnets.  The north poles are marked as black and the square sheet is 45 mm a side and 0.5 mm thick (20/1000 inch). The video shows the sheet sliding around without friction when I tilt the base slightly.

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Levitation by induction

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Alternating magnetic induce an eddy current and an opposing force.

Levitation by induction

To demonstrate levitation by induction, I have cut down a large transformer to allow an external field. It was 240 V to 110 V and rated at 2 kVA. I use the two windings in series. When run from DC it draws 15 A at 30 V or 450 W. This is enough to levitate a large NIB magnet about 17 cm away. This simple arrangement is not able to give stable levitation however but demonstrates the field strength.
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Levitation of a coil

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A coil being levitated above a copper plate by eddy current repulsion

Eddy current repulsion can provide enough force to give levitation of a coil. The coil was out of a defibrillator output circuit. Don’t know number of turns but the inductance is 10 mH (I think). It is drawing 6.5 A at 100 V AC to get the lift of about 1/2 inch off a 1/4 inch copper plate. It is tethered like a conventional lifter. The power is over 600 W so gets hot quickly.
“Continue reading” for further examples and calculations. 5 photos and links….
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Magnetic Levitation Project

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Magnetic levitation project success with a magnet and metal tubeMy first magnetic levitation project setup lifting a NIB magnet working after a week of adjusting and testing. A NIB magnet with some metal pipe is supported motionless, 1 inch below the coil. “..look Ma, no hands..”
“Continue reading” for development of a display, circuits and components. 6 photos and links.

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Diamagnetism with Bismuth

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Diamagnetism with bismuthDiamagnetism with Bismuth stabilises levitation

Diamagnetic levitation using bismuth plates to stabilise the magnetic lift of one permanent magnet by another. This is the classical setup with a small cube magnet between two bismuth plates. “Continue Reading” to see the video, a cool Bismuth crystal, 6 photos and links…
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Levitron

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My attempt at a Levitron

The Levitron (R) is a small spinning top like magnet that is fully hovering in mid air unsupported. It is rather critical in its dimensions and operation. This requires adjustment by very small weight changes. It is commercially made and sold as a science toy. See their site for details.
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Magnetic Levitation 2

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Display at Gravity Discovery CenterMy magnetic levitation display keeping a magnet spinning in mid-air.

After my earlier proof of concept Magnetic Levitation 1 it was time for a serious setup.
“Continue reading” for full display set-up in a science museum. 8 photos, video and links…
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