Magnetic Field Strength & Maximum Weight Liftability

[Hooligan383]

Hello,
I am working on a project in which hollow carbon steel balls(1.5" diameter)(weighing 127.005g a piece) are placed in a plastic tube (1&5/8" innner diameter). Surrounding the plastic tube is enamel coated magnet wire(coiled around the plastic tube) in which a current(12 volts) is passing through the wire thus creating a magnetic field. My question is will the magnetic field be strong enough to lift the balls. Also what is the maximum weight that magnetic field produced can lift? Please include equations used. If you need any more details please feel free to ask. Thank You

 

[cragar]

why would the B field cause the balls to lift. I don't think anything will happen. Or am I crazy?

 

[timthereaper]

Yeah, I'm confused too. How, exactly, did you plan the balls be lifted with the magnetic field?

 

[Hooligan383]

it has the same principles as electromagnets used in the new monorail system where the train is lifted by the magnetic field produced on the track

http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/maglev-train.htm

has an example of what i am talking about

 

[cragar]

I thought the trains have a superconductor on them. The only way you could levitate stuff with a static field is if you have a superconductor or an E field with a charged object. B fields can't do work

 

[Hooligan383]

ok...good point...how about i attract the balls from one end of the tube to the other end where the coils are present..will that work?

 

[cragar]

I think you need an AC current to produce a changing B field that will induce eddy currents in the material and that will produce a B field that will oppose the change in flux.
watch the last 20 minutes of this video he talk about magnetic levitation.

 

[Khashishi]

I think the steel balls will be attracted to the ends of the electromagnet, but not to the center. The field inside a solenoid is pretty close to constant. The steel will be pulled in the direction of increasing field strength.

 

[Hooligan383]

i did watch that video..very interesting and informative..but i think your close to what i want but not quite it..he levitated that doll by the repulsion of the physical wire to the conductor..it wasn't the magnetic field itself levitating the doll..maybe i am thinking of my project the wrong way..my goal is to move balls from one end of the tube to the other...maybe i should look into magnetic pull and repulsion rather than levitation...thank you for your help and time...much appreciated

 

[Khashishi]

It sounds like what you want is a coil gun. Look it up. You use multiple coils down a line.

 

[Hooligan383]

that is exactly what i want to accomplish except i want the projectile to go in a loop...thank you

 

[cragar]

You might want to make a rail gun http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railgun
or similar to what khashishi said , make a ring launcher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqKV9ZUCGF4&feature=related
your ring launcher will need to be AC current or an Increasing DC current to induce an E field to cause electrons to flow in the material.
And can I ask why you want to do this?

 

[Hooligan383]

Thanks for your references.. i need help on this topic because i am doing an internship at a company, and i am trying to develop a Multiphase Heat Transfer System which is not powered by a pump.