Conductive ring levitated by electromagnet

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter RubinLicht
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Electromagnet Ring
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the construction and operation of a device that levitates a conductive ring using an electromagnet. Participants explore the feasibility of using AC versus DC current, safety concerns, and technical specifications related to the design and materials needed for the project.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks guidance on the number of coils and current required to levitate a ring, expressing uncertainty about the effectiveness of using DC current compared to AC.
  • Another participant warns about the dangers of high power requirements and advises against attempting the project without supervision.
  • Some participants mention the necessity of using AC for the device to work effectively, citing their own experiences with voltage and current specifications.
  • A participant questions the accuracy of a specified rod diameter in a project guide, suggesting it may be a typographical error.
  • Concerns are raised about the safety of using mains voltage and the suggestion to use a safer power supply, such as a "wall wart" with lower voltage and current ratings.
  • Questions are posed regarding the current generated by different voltage sources and the rationale behind specific fuse ratings mentioned in the project guide.
  • Discussion includes a critique of the project guide's understanding of electromagnet principles, particularly regarding the use of a ferromagnetic core versus an aluminum core.
  • Participants express a desire to connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications, highlighting the challenges of real-world experimentation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of safety and the preference for using AC current. However, there are multiple competing views regarding the specifics of the project, such as the appropriate materials and design choices, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the practical application of theoretical concepts, such as resistance calculations and the properties of materials used in the device. There are also unresolved questions about the specifications provided in the project guide.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for high school students, educators, and hobbyists interested in electromagnetism, experimental physics, and DIY electronics projects.

RubinLicht
Messages
131
Reaction score
8
I am an eleventh grade student currently in AP Physics C. My teacher did a demonstration with an electromagnet where he drew AC current from the wall to shoot a conductive ring. I was wondering where i could find the blueprint for such a device, or perhaps receive some guidance on how many coils i need/how much current i need to shoot a ring to a certain height.
( )

out of curiosity, is it possible to do the same with dc current. for example, maybe i could use some D cell batteries connected in series, a capacitor, and the device i talked about above for just a magnetic pulse rather than oscillating magnetic flux.
what about just batteries connected in series?
(i've already tried that but with not nearly enough coils. since i didnt have any resistors and the wires were relatively thick, I only connected the circuit for a fraction of a second, because i didn't want the circuit to short out)

And some questions that weren't answered in my lessons:
how does the difference between thick and thin wires affect the device? (i do know that usually as cross sectional area increases resistance decreases)
i can't think of any more questions atm

If i seem like I'm completely loss or my logic is all muddled up, please don't just point it out, but also try to correct me so that i may learn something.

Cheers from the high school student that feels like he doesn't know enough physics.

reposted from classical physics because after looking at the difference between classical physics and general phyics i thought it might belong here more.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
This requires quite a lot of power, and is not something you should be doing at home
Please ONLY do this with teachers/lecturer supervision

Regards
Dave
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman
davenn said:
This requires quite a lot of power, and is not something you should be doing at home
Please ONLY do this with teachers/lecturer supervision

Regards
Dave
Naturally, I wouldn't make one the same size as my teacher's. I just want to make one powerful enough to make the ring jump a little and float just above the coil.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman
RubinLicht said:
Naturally, I wouldn't make one the same size as my teacher's. I just want to make one powerful enough to make the ring jump a little and float just above the coil.

been a long time since I have done one, 20VAC or so at several amps into ... can't remember how many turns of wire I used ... probably 20++

Yes it must be AC
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman
RubinLicht said:
i found a link outlining a project for this device, thanks for the input guys.
<< Link deleted by Mentor >>
That link uses AC Mains voltage as the power source. As already pointed out, this is extremely dangerous, and you should not do that.

Instead, find a "wall wart" or "brick" power supply that has a good current AC output (like 24VAC at a couple amps). Use that instead and you will be MUCH safer.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davenn
I found a wall wart to buy, but I'm still using the page as a guide on what sort of materials to buy and # of coils and whatnot. As such, i have a few questions about the materials.

1) Is the rod for real 9 inch diameter? I'm pretty sure he meant to type 3/4 inch, because nine inches is ridiculous(ly expensive?), plus it doesn't seem to look like 9 inches in the image.
2) I understand the safety aspect of a fuse, but if i were to use 200 feet of #18 magnet wire, how much current would 120V and 24V (the wall wart) generate respectively? (i could use R=pl/A and then ohms law, but i"m a little lazy, and also lost because I'm starting to realize how skewed theoretical knowledge becomes in real life.) I am asking this because the page says specifically to use a fuse with a 7A rating, and i was wondering where he got the number from, experimentation?
3) The worst part is, I don't think the author really knows that much physics. the reason a steel/iron core is needed is obviously because an electromagnet must have a ferromagnetic core, yet he filled an iron tube with an aluminum core. My third question is this: would a hollow ferromagnetic tube work for this experiment? why or why not?

those are the questions i have so far. I understand most of the theoretical aspect of what's going on, such as eddy currents, magnetic fields and whatnot. I'm just struggling to apply my precious knowledge to real life. (quite harder than just acing physics tests tbh)

sorry if my posts get annoying
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
152
Views
8K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K