Magnetic levitation, what it is and how it works

I'm sure many of you watched the movie Star Wars, and so there transport levitating above the surface without any effort and devices. Have you ever wondered whether levitation is possible in the real world? In this article I will tell you how being implemented magnetic levitation at the moment.

What is the magnetic levitation

Well, first, let's find out what is hidden under the term Levitation. So Levitation - the overcoming of gravity, with the result that the object has a static position in space at the same time without relying on a solid or liquid surface.

A magnetic levitation - a technology, due to which there is a rise of the object's magnetic field, when to compensate for gravitational effects of applied magnetic effect on the object.

There are four options for the implementation of the magnetic levitation to date, namely:

1. Electromagnetic levitation with tracking system.

2. Diamagnetic levitation.

3. Levitation of magnet above a superconductor.

4. Levitation under the influence of the eddy currents.

Let's talk about each detail.

Electromagnetic levitation with tracking system

This variant of the electromagnetic levitation is widely used in souvenir production. So, for example, is quite unusual looks like a globe, which hovers in the stand. A realized embodiment of a levitation follows:

The base is fixed electromagnet which is connected in common circuit with the light barrier. When this is not closed until the photocell from the light source, the electromagnet operates, and thereby attracts Globe once closes photocell from the light source, the electromagnet stops working and the globe begins fall.

Dropping below reopens solar cell, which again includes an electromagnet and the globe once again tightened.

It turns the subject is not standing still and is constantly falling and falling, but due to the fact that it is very fast for the human eye, it seems that the subject of just hanging in the air.

diamagnetic levitation

In nature, there are substances such as diamagnetic, these should magnetized acting on them against electromagnetic fields. And under certain conditions, diamagnetic, for example, a piece of graphite, completely excludes the magnetic field in the outer layers and literally floats above neodymium magnets underneath it.

At the same time, to stabilize the graphite magnets must be placed in a checkerboard pattern. In this case, the rod will be in a kind of trap fields and will levitate.

If you take a small neodymium magnet with the induction of 11 T, it can make levitate literally in your hands. Since water is also a diamagnetic.

Bright enough experiment with "flying" frog. When a small amphibian with a magnet located above the induction is greater than 16 T, and literally hovers over the surface at a short distance from the magnet.

Superconductor and magnet levitation - the Meissner effect

Another type of magnetic levitation is the so-called Meissner effect. The essence of this effect lies in the following:

Take a plate of yttrium-barium-copper and cooled by liquid nitrogen. With such a very low temperature metal becomes super conductor. And now, if you put on top of the magnet with the induction of 1mTl, it will levitate. In this case, the higher the induction, the rise to great heights magnet.

The chip of this effect lies in the fact that the superconductor has an interesting property such as the ejection of the magnetic field from the superconducting phase. And a magnet, starting from a magnetic field formed by the reverse orientation, hangs in the air.

This process will continue until evenly cooled while the metal leaves the phase of the superconducting state.

Levitation and eddy currents

Eddy currents or other - eddy currents that are induced in large enough conductors, alternating magnetic field, the same may well hold things levitating state.

Let's say, if you take the coil and place it under a closed circuit made of aluminum, then passing an alternating current through the coil, we will see how it will hover above the disk.

In this embodiment of levitation using Lenz's Law. According to him, created in the coil or ring current creates a magnetic field whose direction will counteract the force that created it. That is, at any given time in the coil or disk will form a magnetic field in the opposite direction.

Thus, the subject will be held in a suspended state until switched alternating current.

This same effect is observed when a neodymium magnet is dropped in a copper pipe. The magnetic field induced in the copper pipe counteracts the magnetic field of the magnet and thereby slows its fall.

conclusion

That's all I wanted to tell you about magnetic levitation and the options for its implementation. If the article was useful to you, you will appreciate it Like. Thank you for your attention!