October 31, 2007
78 protons
This question was handed in to us by Prasanth. What is going on here?
Cracked by: udupendra , bs , Varun.M , sidsen , vaibhav008 , Biki , alephnull , yaksha , Tathagata Chatterjee , nihit , rajeshvj , C’na and Keerthi.
Answer: This is a “Levitron” in action. Brand names aside, its a spin-stablized magnetic top. The magical floating being caused by repulsion between the like poles at the bottom of the top, and the top of the surface below the top (puns ahoy). The thing doesn’t flip over because the rotation keeps it upright on its vertical axis.
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October 31st, 2007 at 10:29 am, GMT -0700 ( 1193851746 )
That's a Levitron - the 'Amazing Anti-gravity Top', and going by the title, probably the 'Deluxe Platinum' edition
October 31st, 2007 at 11:05 am, GMT -0700 ( 1193853949 )
Magnetic Levitation. I think that's the omega levitron.
October 31st, 2007 at 11:21 am, GMT -0700 ( 1193854861 )
the object shown is the Levitron which works on the principle of
"Spin stabilized magnetic levitation".
October 31st, 2007 at 11:40 am, GMT -0700 ( 1193856000 )
Spin stabilized magnetic levitation causing a levitron to levitate a spinning top.
October 31st, 2007 at 3:26 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1193869577 )
Demo of a platinum levitron top, that levitates bcoz of the magnetic base. Pretty cool stuff.
October 31st, 2007 at 4:33 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1193873608 )
Platinum Levitron Top
October 31st, 2007 at 7:36 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1193884569 )
Not too sure what you are looking for here. That is the Levitron. There are many articles about it but the principle can be succintly described as spin stabilised magnetic levitation.
However, I don't get what Platinum has to do with this.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:41 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1193888482 )
LEVITRON® - The Amazing Anti-Gravity Top
October 31st, 2007 at 9:38 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1193891900 )
Demonstration of Levitron- the best new science toy in a generation- declared by members of the American association of Physics Teacher. The Levitron floats free on space for minutes at a time, supported only by the repelling magnetic force produced by magnets ( One permanently fixed in the base and one inside the top). The top spins stable in the range from about 20 to 35 revolutions per second (rps). It is completely unstable above 35-40 rps and below 18 rps. After the top is spun and levitated, it slows down because of air resistance. After a few minutes it reaches the lower stability limit (18 rps) and falls.
Similar effect can be achieved with a superconducting disk to demonstrate the Meissner Effect.
Regards,
Tathagata Chatterjee
October 31st, 2007 at 10:58 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1193896734 )
Levitation of Platinum using Levitron…
October 31st, 2007 at 11:02 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1193896953 )
A levitron top in action.
November 1st, 2007 at 12:20 am, GMT -0700 ( 1193901618 )
Levitron
November 1st, 2007 at 6:25 am, GMT -0700 ( 1193923529 )
Spin stabilized magnetic levitation used by the Toy (Levitron - http://www.levitron.com).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levitron
January 24th, 2008 at 10:18 pm, GMT -0800 ( 1201241897 )
I’d like to order one point for this question please!