Levitating Ring Magnets on a Rotating Copper Tube

Intro: Levitating Ring Magnets on a Rotating Copper Tube

Another neat way of induction levitation - ring magnets levitate on a spinning copper tube

STEP 1: What You Need + Measurements Used

1. Ring magnets. Inner diameter 16 mm, outer diameter 20 mm. thickness 5 mm. Grade N52.

2. Copper tubing. 12 mm outer diameter.

3. A tool with high rpms

4. A way to secure the copper tube to the tool.

The copper tubing doesn't have to be that long in fact the shorter tube you use the easier it is to attach the drill and less weight also means higher rpms. The hardest part of this experiment for me was attaching the copper tube to the drill in a way that it is balanced right. It got easily off centered. I ended up using a micro precession screwdriver. The smaller end fit straight the Dremel and the handle end fit almost perfectly inside the copper tube. I actually used couple of balloons to concentrate the micro precession screwdriver handle end inside the tube. This was a real McGyver solution. If you have proper tools it's worth spending a little extra time for this joint. Non-ferrous materials are recommended for the joint but the screwdriver I used as joint was attracted by magnets but it didn't seem to disturb the levitation too much.

Magnets are brittle and even the high centripetal forces can break them so eye protection is a must!