Electromagetic movement of water

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter voltronforce
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Movement Water
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of using electromagnetism to move water, particularly in the context of modifying a tabletop water feature fountain. Participants explore the strength of electromagnets required for this purpose and alternative methods for achieving water movement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how strong an electromagnet would need to be to move water, noting that while an electromagnetic field can move water, the specific strength required is unclear.
  • Another participant asserts that moving water magnetically is not feasible and suggests finding a different gift idea.
  • A different participant mentions that a prototype ship using superconducting electromagnets was able to move at only 2 mph, implying that significant power is required for such movement.
  • One suggestion involves inducing an electric current through the stream of water and varying an external magnetic field to potentially move the water, raising the question of how to do this safely.
  • Another participant proposes using electrodes placed in the water between magnet poles, suggesting that an old microwave oven magnet could work, and mentions the need for salt to achieve sufficient current.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of using electromagnetism to move water, with some asserting it is not possible while others propose alternative methods. No consensus is reached on the viability of these methods.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss various assumptions regarding the strength of electromagnets, the practicality of inducing currents, and the conditions under which these methods might work, but these aspects remain unresolved.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in electromagnetism, experimental physics, or creative engineering solutions for water movement may find this discussion relevant.

voltronforce
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi.

I was wondering how strong an electromagnet would have to be to move water, such as a low stream from a tap or something..

I searched the forum a bit to the answer to this, and while i did discover that an electromagnetic field of sufficient strength will move water, the strength required was not described.

The reason i ask is because i was thinking of making a modification to one of those tabletop water feature fountains as a gift idea. Is this even possible? Is there a better way? Or should i just go with a voucher or something...

Thanks in advance.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
voltronforce said:
Hi.

I was wondering how strong an electromagnet would have to be to move water, such as a low stream from a tap or something..

I searched the forum a bit to the answer to this, and while i did discover that an electromagnetic field of sufficient strength will move water, the strength required was not described.

The reason i ask is because i was thinking of making a modification to one of those tabletop water feature fountains as a gift idea. Is this even possible? Is there a better way? Or should i just go with a voucher or something...

Thanks in advance.
Moving water magnetically just isn"t going to happen. Try to find a different gift :o)
 
It takes an enormous amount of power. A prototype ship was built using this idea (think: "The Hunt for Red October"). It used massive superconducting electromagnets and was only able to move at 2 mph.
 
Cool. Back to the drawing board then.. Thanks for the help guys.
 
One possibility would be to induce an electric current through the steam of water, now you may be able to move the water by varying an external magnetic field.

The quesion would be how to induce the current... safely.
 
You put electrodes in the water between the magnet poles. The electrodes have to be perpendicular to the wate flow.

I believe and old microwave oven magnet would work. You may have to put salt in the water to get enought current. I believe on the order of an amp
 

Similar threads

High School Does movement affect H2O freezing temperature?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
7K
High School Coefficient of friction in sea water
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
3K
High School Will there be water coming out of the last hole?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
Formula derivation connecting vertical water flowrate & horizontal distance moved by a suspended sphere
  • · Replies 207 ·
7
Replies
207
Views
10K
Undergrad Why is my magnetic levitation experiment not working?
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
High School Beam of air: Extending the range of a fan
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
High School How to shoot longer shots in basketball
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
Plumbing Compressed air powered water pressure
  • · Replies 39 ·
2
Replies
39
Views
15K
High School Non-ferrous solenoid actuator -- Force calculation
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School Michelson Morley experiment and the Doppler effect
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K