How do water and magnetic fields interact at different temperatures?

[jWald]

How exactly does water behave in a magnetic field? I've seen pictures of a boat that uses electromagnetic rail technology to move across water, but I still don't fully grasp it.

Also, does this behavior change when temperatures rise or fall?

 

[NascentOxygen]

I've seen pictures of a boat that uses electromagnetic rail technology to move across water, but I still don't fully grasp it.

Hi jWald. http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/5826/rotwel.gif

Magnetohydrodynamics? It involves passing a lot of current through sea water in the presence of a strong magnetic field. So having a nuclear reactor aboard your ship to supply all that electricity is practically essential. Google it and you'll find as much information as you can handle.

 

[LastTimelord]

I don't think that water is affected by magnetic fields- it would have to be ionized, or polarized.

 

[soothsayer]

What about salt water?

 

[DrZoidberg]

I don't think that water is affected by magnetic fields- it would have to be ionized, or polarized.

Seawater is always heavily ionized. If you send a current through the water, a magnetic field can exert a force on it.

 

[soothsayer]

And the reaction force could cause the type of propulsion the OP was wondering about?