Spin-stabilized magnetic levitation facts for kids

Spin-stabilized magnetic levitation is a cool way to make things float using magnets! It happens when a spinning magnet or a group of magnets floats above another magnet or group of magnets. The spinning helps it stay steady, like a gyroscope.

This amazing trick was first found by an inventor named Roy M. Harrigan in the 1970s. He lived in Vermont. In 1983, Harrigan even got a U.S. patent for his floating device.

Later, in 1984, another inventor named Joseph Chieffo from Pennsylvania discovered the same thing. Chieffo's design was a bit different because it used a flat base magnet, which was an improvement. His design was shown in a magazine called "MAGNETS IN YOUR FUTURE" in 1991.

Both Harrigan's and Chieffo's ideas helped create a very popular toy called the 'Levitron'. It's a spinning top that floats in the air! In 2012 and 2014, a person named Max Michaelis even made Levitron tops float at an angle, like 45 degrees or even completely flat (90 degrees).

How Does It Float?

The Challenge of Floating Magnets

You might have heard of Earnshaw's theorem. This rule says that you usually can't make magnets float stably using only other fixed magnets. If you try, the floating magnet will always want to flip over or slide away. This theorem applies to regular magnets that aren't moving.

The Gyroscope Secret

But spin-stabilized magnetic levitation is different! The top is always spinning, so Earnshaw's theorem doesn't fully apply here. The spinning top acts like a gyroscope. A gyroscope is something that resists changes to its direction when it's spinning fast. Think of a spinning bicycle wheel – it's hard to push it over when it's moving.

Because the top is spinning, it doesn't flip over and stick to the base magnet. Instead, it stays upright. The top also does a little wobble, called precession. This wobble helps it find a stable spot in the magnetic field above the base.

Finding the Balance

So, the top floats because of a perfect balance of three things:

• Gravity: pulling the top down.
• Magnetic forces: pushing the top up from the base.
• Gyroscopic effect: keeping the top stable and preventing it from flipping.

All these forces work together to keep the top floating in a special spot where it's most stable.

Floating for a Long Time

In science labs, scientists can make these tops float for a very long time. They use special equipment to measure how fast the top is spinning and keep it going. However, even in a lab, temperature changes can affect how stable the magnets are. Because of this, the top might eventually fall after many hours or even days.

Floating at an Angle

Making the top float at an angle, or even horizontally, is a bit more complicated. It involves creating a bigger "magnetic trap" using extra magnets. One of these extra magnets is placed directly above the Levitron. It acts like the string of a pendulum, helping to keep the top stable even when it's tilted.