Floating Strawberry: Real or Fake?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Maike
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the phenomenon of a floating strawberry as seen in a video clip, exploring whether it is real and the underlying mechanisms involved. Participants express curiosity about the scientific principles, particularly focusing on the concept of diamagnetic levitation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the authenticity of the floating strawberry and seeks explanations about how it works.
  • Another participant suggests that sharing the video would enhance the discussion.
  • A different participant references a related phenomenon involving a "levitating frog" as additional context.
  • One participant explains that the effect is known as "direct diamagnetic levitation," attributing it to the diamagnetic properties of the water in the strawberry, which is repelled by a magnetic field. They note that this typically requires superconducting magnets unless the object is very small.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion includes multiple viewpoints, with some participants seeking clarification while others provide explanations. There is no consensus on the authenticity of the video or the feasibility of the phenomenon without further evidence.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not provided specific details about the type of magnets used or the conditions necessary for the levitation to occur, leaving some assumptions and dependencies on definitions unresolved.

Maike
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Hey there!

Lately, I saw a clip of a magnet and a floating strawberry. Is it real? How does it work?
I am curious for your explanations.
 
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It would do good to post the video :smile:.
 
ProfuselyQuarky said:
It would do good to post the video :smile:.

 
See also YouTube for "levitating frog".
 
Maike said:
Lately, I saw a clip of a magnet and a floating strawberry. Is it real? How does it work?
I am curious for your explanations.

It's called "direct diamagnetic levitation" and is the result of the diamagnetic properties of the water in the strawberry, where the water is repelled by a magnetic field. This typically requires superconducting magnets unless the object you want to levitate is very small, about the size of a water droplet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_levitation#Direct_diamagnetic_levitation
 

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