Do materials surrounding magnets affect how superconductors levitate?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the effects of surrounding materials on the behavior of superconductors during magnetic levitation experiments. Participants explore the potential impact of various materials on the levitation speed and time of a type 2 superconductor when placed above a rail of magnets.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about whether changing the material surrounding the magnets and superconductor will affect the results of their magnetic levitation experiment.
  • Another participant suggests that the effect of the surrounding material depends on its properties and how it interacts with the magnetic fields.
  • A participant proposes testing with different materials (iron, nickel, copper, wood) to observe variations in speed when a constant force is applied to the superconductor.
  • One participant emphasizes that the experiment could be simplified by testing the magnet's ability to pick up paperclips with various materials interposed, without needing the superconductor setup.
  • A participant questions the ownership of the experiment, clarifying that it is their own experiment being discussed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the effects of surrounding materials, and multiple viewpoints regarding the potential impact remain present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge various factors that could influence the outcomes, but specific assumptions and dependencies on material properties remain unresolved.

SBrownJC
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I'm currently doing an experiment with magnetic levitation but I don't know if my independent variable will even affect my results at all. I am planning on building a rail of magnets and levitating a type 2 superconductor on it. I wanted to change the material surrounding the rail of magnets and/or the superconductor. Will this have any effect when I record the time and speed of the superconductor?
 
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Maybe. Depends on what the material is, how it affects the fields, how much it needs to fore you to notice and probably a half dozen other factors.
 
So if I place an iron, nickel, copper, wood, and other sheets above the magnets and cover the superconductor with the same then it would move at different speeds when pushed at with constant force?
 
SBrownJC said:
So if I place an iron, nickel, copper, wood, and other sheets above the magnets and cover the superconductor with the same then it would move at different speeds when pushed at with constant force?
This will be pretty easy to test and verify. You don't need the superconductor setup, just the magnet.

See how many paperclips a magnet will pick up with various materials interposed.
 
SBrownJC said:
So if I place an iron, nickel, copper, wood, and other sheets above the magnets and cover the superconductor with the same then it would move at different speeds when pushed at with constant force?
Whose experiment is this? Yours or mine?
 
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