Thread: Magnetism

I just bought some neocubes ( or zenmagnets or buckyballs are whatever you want to call them), they are basically small magnets, if you don't know these, shame on you and check youtube to see what i'm talking about

So i was wondering if you could disconnect a single dot from the cord of magnets,
and hold it at a length from the cord so that the force of the attraction of the magnets equals the force of the gravity on the small magnet, thus making the small magnet 'float' in the air ?

If it's not understandable what i mean, i'll post some pics

yes, but the equilibrium is very very delicate and easily disturbed.

According to a lecture on gravity, from Richard Feynman, that I have on CD;
Both magnetism and gravity obey an "inverse square of distance" law.
The ratio of force for gravity compared to magnetism is 1/1.47 * 10^42.

My guess is that the point of equilibrium would be infinitesimal in size.

Originally Posted by Aero

I just bought some neocubes ( or zenmagnets or buckyballs are whatever you want to call them), they are basically small magnets, if you don't know these, shame on you and check youtube to see what i'm talking about

So i was wondering if you could disconnect a single dot from the cord of magnets,
and hold it at a length from the cord so that the force of the attraction of the magnets equals the force of the gravity on the small magnet, thus making the small magnet 'float' in the air ?

If it's not understandable what i mean, i'll post some pics

I think the main problem you're always going to have is that the magnets simply re-orient themselves to whatever direction is the most attractive. In order for it to hover in air, there would have to be magnets above it as well as below. Otherwise, there will always be a way for it to align itself so that the attractive force is greater than the repulsive force.

Great answers, makes some things clear
Thanks for the answers.

Originally Posted by Arcane_Mathematician

yes, but the equilibrium is very very delicate and easily disturbed.

I agree with Arcane and kojax. The equilibrium would be unconditionally unstable. Though theoretically possible, for all practical purposes, this would be impossible to do.