"Anti" Magnetic water and Levitating Graphite by Diamagnetism

Diamagnetism is the property of a substance to be repelled by a magnetic field. Interestingly enough, water shows this effect. We build a simple, but very sensitive detector to show this. We also show pyrolytic carbon that is so diamagnetic that it can float above magnets if they are arranged the right way.


Water is diamagnetic, meaning it's slightly repelled by a magnetic field. But in everyday life this is almost impossible to notice. We need to build a very sensitive detector to see it.

Just get a basin of water and float a styrofoam block in it. Styrofoam is very light and so even the small repulsive force of a test tube of water will have a noticeable push on it. Push the test tube of water into the center of the block and simply hold a strong neodymium magnet as close as possible to the tube without touching it. It's a very small force, but eventually the block will start moving away from the magnet.

Pyrolytic graphite, also called pyrolytic carbon, exhibits the same effect and can even be made to levitate on top of a magnet. A single magnet is unstable since the graphite will like to fall off the side. But having four magnets and arranging them like in the video will create a "void" in the center that the graphite "falls" into and remains stably levitated.


Some online dealers selling pyrolytic graphite:

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/
http://scitoys.com/
http://digikey.com

If you know any good sellers, message me.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Diamagnetism
• Diamagnetic
• water
• neodymium
• magnet
• superconductor
• floating
• paramagnetic
• levitation
• levitating
• science
• physics
• fair
• experiment
• nurd
• rage
• antigravity

[rickylain]

How can you make sure the diamegnetic material is not the foam or the vial?

[NurdRage]

@rickylain measure the effect quantitatively without the water present, then measure with the water present, you'll see the effect is stronger with the water, indicating the water is diamagnetic.

[bomrana]

Please suggest. Is any material discovered that can shield magnetic field completely which is not magnetic itself ?

[NurdRage]

@bomrana Superconductor

[Wah47]

Please please say "Luke... I am your father..." Your voice is quite cool xD

[MrStockers]

That's not your real voice is it...

[VICTOR28CHARLIE]

is the part 100. longer then x plus 2 = hoover board mjfox

[pghg022]

@NurdRage i beleve he is looking for a pharad cage (sorry for misspelling it)

[DreamAmericanThe]

Can you do some chemical process to turn that neo gold bar *w.e u call it* into a spray? Coat it on concrete and make some pyrolictic carbon shoes? I will call them Hover Shoes

[Rannyfash]

that tissue.... small penis sir

[binaryblade2]

@bomrana bismuth

[MegaGeek1337]

This is the future material for levatating cars, and neodymium magnets will be placed in the road. Pretty cool stuff.

[zRev1983]

What about ice? would the organized structure of the h2o, as opposed to the chaotic movement of liquid water, affect this in either way (i.e. more or less diamagnetic)?? Also is this the same principle that applies when making a current in water with opposing electroplates??

[zombierobopirate]

you can get a more convincing effect using a straw filled with water suspended by a string. the magnet will rotate the straw