How does electrostatic levitation work?

[anything.john]

Any knows how electrostatic levitation works?

I know it is the process of using an electrostatic field to lift a charged object, but how does it work? what goes on in the atoms in the dust and with the electric field?

 

[Andy Resnick]

The electrical force F = qE balances the gravitational force F = mg. Not much more than that.

 

[diegzumillo]

You may be referring to those toys that keep something floating in the air. it's still what anything.john said. but some of them are more interesting, they use a collection of three (or more) sensors on the base and a single electromagnet placed under the object, the sensors send the signal to a little processor that controls the electromagnet to keep the object from falling. this way you can tap it that it won't slide away.
those things are fun! :)