7 ms·

This is very cool. Another video with a bit of an explanation as to why - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyOtIsnG71U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyOtIsnG71U

by fybren 15y ago

This is very cool. Another video with a bit of an explanation as to why - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyOtIsnG71U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyOtIsnG71U.

andrewflnr 15y ago
Thanks. I'm not sure I understand the part about "quantum flux tubes". I take it that they're leaks through flaws in the superconductor (which should exclude the field entirely). Is the superconductor is being gripped or pinned by these lines of force running through it, like a piece of cheese on a toothpick? But that doesn't quite explain how it can move along a field.
- JangoSteve 15y ago
  I think the magnets on the track piece may be arranged NSN like this: NNNNNNNNNN SSSSSSSSSS ==> NNNNNNNNNN Which allows movement as indicated. In the part of the video where it's just locked stationary above a square magnet, it appears maybe the magnet as this arrangment: NNN NS NSN or SN NNN Which locks it entirely in-place, not allowing movement. And then in the part where it's spinning, I think maybe the magnet is S on the inside and N on the outside or something: NN NSSN NS SN NSSN NN Allowing it to spin. But this is speculation based on my limited understanding (but I noticed no one else was answering, so I thought I'd give a shot).
chubs 15y ago
Very good video. The 'locking' effect is simply blowing my mind. I had no idea that was possible.
- babebridou 15y ago
  I'm trying to figure out some practical applications for frictionless movement and positioning of small, light and cold objects without changing the scale of the system, but each of my ideas implies some heating that would probably negate the phenomenon a bit too fast (ballistics for instance). I can't resist posting one of youtube's comments on this last video: "so... you have created the worst paperweight ever"
  - gldalmaso 15y ago
    > (ballistics for instance) so people already wanna make a gun out of it, that's just sad mankind will always pervert science for power?
    - shabble 15y ago
      Military research is where a whole lot of the cool science comes from. There's nothing like knowing the guy who gets there first is going to blow your head off to spur the competition. In fact, maybe governmental science grants should have some sort of gladiatorial combat requirements for disputed priority...
    - nknight 15y ago
      The word "ballistics" is not a synonym for "weapons". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver
  - kokey 15y ago
    It could replace pneumatic tube systems for mail. Not that these are still in much use today, except hospitals.
  - atte 15y ago
    I couldn't help but picture beers quantum-levitating toward me from the refrigerator when you said "small, light and cold objects."

by fybren 15y ago

This is very cool. Another video with a bit of an explanation as to why - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyOtIsnG71U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyOtIsnG71U.

andrewflnr 15y ago

Thanks. I'm not sure I understand the part about "quantum flux tubes". I take it that they're leaks through flaws in the superconductor (which should exclude the field entirely). Is the superconductor is being gripped or pinned by these lines of force running through it, like a piece of cheese on a toothpick? But that doesn't quite explain how it can move along a field.

JangoSteve 15y ago
I think the magnets on the track piece may be arranged NSN like this: NNNNNNNNNN SSSSSSSSSS ==> NNNNNNNNNN Which allows movement as indicated. In the part of the video where it's just locked stationary above a square magnet, it appears maybe the magnet as this arrangment: NNN NS NSN or SN NNN Which locks it entirely in-place, not allowing movement. And then in the part where it's spinning, I think maybe the magnet is S on the inside and N on the outside or something: NN NSSN NS SN NSSN NN Allowing it to spin. But this is speculation based on my limited understanding (but I noticed no one else was answering, so I thought I'd give a shot).

chubs 15y ago

Very good video. The 'locking' effect is simply blowing my mind. I had no idea that was possible.

babebridou 15y ago
I'm trying to figure out some practical applications for frictionless movement and positioning of small, light and cold objects without changing the scale of the system, but each of my ideas implies some heating that would probably negate the phenomenon a bit too fast (ballistics for instance). I can't resist posting one of youtube's comments on this last video: "so... you have created the worst paperweight ever"
- gldalmaso 15y ago
  > (ballistics for instance) so people already wanna make a gun out of it, that's just sad mankind will always pervert science for power?
  - shabble 15y ago
    Military research is where a whole lot of the cool science comes from. There's nothing like knowing the guy who gets there first is going to blow your head off to spur the competition. In fact, maybe governmental science grants should have some sort of gladiatorial combat requirements for disputed priority...
  - nknight 15y ago
    The word "ballistics" is not a synonym for "weapons". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver
- kokey 15y ago
  It could replace pneumatic tube systems for mail. Not that these are still in much use today, except hospitals.
- atte 15y ago
  I couldn't help but picture beers quantum-levitating toward me from the refrigerator when you said "small, light and cold objects."