Magnetic levitation

Magnetic levitation is the process by which an object is suspended above another object with no other support but magnetic fields. The electromagnetic force is used to counteract the effects of the gravitational force.

Related Topics:
Electromagnetic force - Gravitational force

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Earnshaw's theorem proved conclusively that it is not possible to levitate using static, macroscopic, "classical" electromagnetic fields. The forces acting on an object in any combination of gravitational, electrostatic, and magnetostatic fields will make the object's position unstable. However, several possibilities exist to make levitation viable, by violating the assumptions of the theorem.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~