Is a diamagnetic levitation engine possible?

[RealJebKerman]

I recently saw the video of the frog being levitated with a big magnet. Would it be possible to flip the magnet over and use it to levitate a vehicle? How much energy would it take to levitate, say, a 1000kg vehicle above a dry lakebed?

 

[anorlunda]

Please provide a link to the frog video. PF rules require that you cite your source when making statements like that.

Yes, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev Maglev trains are already in operation in several places.

But levitation depends on the proximity of two magnets. It wouldn't work over a lake.

 

[RealJebKerman]

All materials have at least some magnetic properties, or the frog wouldn’t levitate. And I don’t mean water, I meant the salt flats like in Utah.

 

[anorlunda]

Would it be possible to flip the magnet over and use it to levitate a vehicle? How much energy would it take to levitate,

Have you ever seen a junkyard?

 

[RealJebKerman]

But the magnet would be on the vehicle and repel the ground below it.

 

[anorlunda]

But the magnet would be on the vehicle and repel the ground below it.

I gave you that answer in post #2.

 

[berkeman]

But the magnet would be on the vehicle and repel the ground below it.

What's the ground made of in your scenario?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/06/24/lexus-hoverboard/29220305/

http://videos.usatoday.net/Brightco...58001_video-still-for-video-4319519373001.jpg

 

[RealJebKerman]

Dry soil/sand.

 

[Stephenk53]

Dry soil/sand.

It would not levitate due to soil/sand not being magnetic, magnets can only push magnets

 

[RealJebKerman]

All materials have at least some degree of magnetism.

 

[berkeman]

All materials have at least some degree of magnetism.

Not true.

Please keep on learning about STEM subjects, and asking questions. That's a great thing, and it will lead you on a good path in life.

Unfortunately this idea of yours in this thread will not work. If it could work, it would be used widely for transportation already. The maglev train example mentioned earlier is the closest to what you are thinking about. Please study the Relevant Concepts and Equations for Maglev transportation linked to earlier, and if you have specific questions about that reading, start a new thread with links to that reading and your questions. Keep on learning!

 

[berkeman]

Oops, I thought this was already posted in this thread Maybe it was from a different recent similar thread. In any case, here is the Maglev link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev