Is Anti-Gravity Levitation Possible for Human Transport?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the feasibility of anti-gravity levitation for human transport, exploring concepts of levitation, independence from Earth's rotation, and the potential use of electromagnetic forces. Participants examine theoretical and practical implications of these ideas, including comparisons to existing technologies like helicopters.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that current levitation technologies rely on mechanisms that aid in floating, rather than true anti-gravity levitation.
  • Another participant questions whether a person could remain stationary while the Earth rotates beneath them, raising concerns about the implications of such a scenario.
  • A participant proposes the idea of using electromagnetic pulses to levitate diamagnetic materials, questioning the expected effects on the surface of the material being levitated.
  • One participant points out that while the physics of levitation might be theoretically sound, practical implementation is deemed unfeasible due to the strength of magnetic fields required.
  • There is a discussion about helicopters and their movement in relation to Earth's rotation, with some participants agreeing that helicopters maintain momentum from the Earth's rotation when they take off.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of levitation and its feasibility, with some agreeing on the limitations of current technologies while others explore theoretical possibilities. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the practicality of anti-gravity levitation for human transport.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the diamagnetic properties of materials and the strength of magnetic fields required for levitation, noting that water's diamagnetic strength is significantly weaker than that of superconductors. There is also a lack of consensus on the implications of Earth's rotation on levitation concepts.

Robin07
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Fictious meaning that we doen't have anything, as of yet, that can levitate not above a mechanism that aids in its apparent floating capability. Such as a levitating spining top and the base that it needs to float on. Or an electomagnet that turns on and off repeadedly to give the illusion of foating, which I find is more suspension than levitation. No, I'm taking about a free floating platform of sorts that you can stand on, ballanced. And perhaps when you should tilt your head one way or the other you would then be tipping yourself off of the center of gravity so that you would be able to experience locamotion.

My question would be if a person is independent of Earths rotation. Would that person then be standing still as the Earth rotates underneath? This would be 1000.7 km/h at the equator in an west to east direction and going in a tight circle at the poles. Yes? I hope that this is not the case...
 
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Absolutely, That never came to mind. Like the helicopter floats on air, independent of Earth.
Thanks.
 
Robin07 said:
Absolutely, That never came to mind. Like the helicopter floats on air, independent of Earth.
Thanks.

Except that the air is connected to the Earth (it is rotating with the Earth), so it is not independent of the Earth.
 
Good point, So then would it be entirely possible to have a strong enough electromagnetic pluse or sucessive pulses, that would be directed to a diamagnetic material such as water. To levitate over? What type of form would this pulse be or better yet, what if any would be expected to happen to the waters' surface. Since its' being induced into a bouant, diamagnetic. If I undersatnd this train of thought. This would give an equal, and opposite force that it originated from. In therory would that be correct?
 
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While the physics seem to work, the idea is simply unfeasible. See the following article and look at the table that lists the diamagnetic strength of certain materials. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamagnetism

Notice that water is at -0.91 and that a superconductor is at -105. This means that a superconductor is repelled from a magnetic field over 100,000 times more strongly than water is. So while you can levitate a small piece of superconducting material over a permanent magnet, the strength of the field you would need to levitate a magnetic platform over water is unimaginably high.
 
I thought the helicopter would move together with the rotation of the Earth firstly not because of the air but because it had moved with it while it was standing, and kept its momentum when it lifted off.
 
Khantazm said:
I thought the helicopter would move together with the rotation of the Earth firstly not because of the air but because it had moved with it while it was standing, and kept its momentum when it lifted off.

Absolutely.
 

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