Would it be possible to hold electrified liquids in the air?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the feasibility of holding electrified liquids in the air using external electric or magnetic fields. Participants consider the types of liquids that could be used and the mechanisms involved in levitation, including the potential for magnetic levitation and the properties required for such liquids.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question what constitutes an "electrified liquid" and suggest possibilities such as molten iron or metals.
  • There is a reference to the "Milliken Oil Drop Experiment" and discussions about magnetic levitation, with some participants noting its application in various apparatus.
  • One participant suggests that frogs levitating in high magnetic fields could be considered a demonstration of liquid levitation due to their high water content.
  • Another participant speculates that if a strong enough magnetic field is applied to water, it could potentially be levitated, although they express uncertainty about the existence of such experiments.
  • It is proposed that a water droplet could be levitated, relying on surface tension to maintain its shape.
  • One participant asserts that experiments on diamagnetic levitation have indeed been conducted, emphasizing the need for extremely high magnetic fields (10-15 teslas or more) for effective levitation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty about the specific types of liquids that could be levitated and the practicalities of conducting such experiments. While some agree that magnetic levitation is possible, the discussion remains unresolved regarding the feasibility and specifics of holding electrified liquids in the air.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for extremely high magnetic fields for levitation, indicating a limitation in practical applications. There is also a lack of consensus on whether certain experiments have been conducted or their outcomes.

jollage
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Hi,

Would it be possible to hold electrified liquids in the air? There is an external electric field applied to the liquids. What kind of liquid must it be? I guess water wouldn't do the job.
 
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What is an electrified liquid?
 
Bystander said:
What is an electrified liquid?
I was thinking something like molted iron or metal, that's also my question, I'm not sure what it could be. I want to know whether the liquid could be held up only by the magnetic field or electric field.
 
You might want to hunt down the "Milliken Oil Drop Experiment." Magnetic levitation using attractive and repulsive effects has been applied in a variety of apparatus, "spinning rotor gauges" for vacuum systems. For liquids? Frogs levitating in high magnetic fields are a popular gimmick in laboratory public relations, and are arguably liquid.
 
Bystander said:
You might want to hunt down the "Milliken Oil Drop Experiment." Magnetic levitation using attractive and repulsive effects has been applied in a variety of apparatus, "spinning rotor gauges" for vacuum systems. For liquids? Frogs levitating in high magnetic fields are a popular gimmick in laboratory public relations, and are arguably liquid.
Thank you Bystander. These seem very interesting. I checked quickly the levitating frog, I read "...Frogs are convenient (for the experiments) not only because they have a high water content, which is a good diamagnetic material...", so it seems convinced that if one applies a strong enough magnetic field to some volume of water, the water could be held in the air, is it right? But no one has done this kind of experiments? I am picturing in mind some volume of water held in the air by the magnetic field, and then (by turning off the magnetic field) falls down.
 
Should be able to levitate a water droplet and depend upon surface tension to hold the droplet together. Frogs appear to be more fun for public relations purposes.
 
jollage said:
But no one has done this kind of experiments?

Of course they have. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_levitation#Diamagnetic_levitation

jollage said:
I am picturing in mind some volume of water held in the air by the magnetic field, and then (by turning off the magnetic field) falls down.

It's possible. The problem is that you need extremely high magnetic fields, something like 10-15 teslas or more.
 

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