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Today I learned that, without a magic wand, levitation is real.

The physics behind it consists of a ceramic material that is famous for superconductivity when cooled below -185ºC (-301ºF). The superconductive material doesn't get along with the magnetic field and, as such:

...the superconductor will expel all the magnetic field from inside. This is the Meissner effect. In our case, since the superconductor is extremely thin, the magnetic field DOES penetrates. However, it does that in discrete quantities (this is quantum physics after all! ) called flux tubes.

Inside each magnetic flux tube superconductivity is locally destroyed. The superconductor will try to keep the magnetic tubes pinned in weak areas (e.g. grain boundaries). Any spatial movement of the superconductor will cause the flux tubes to move. In order to prevent that the superconductor remains "trapped" in midair.

Damn, that's cool!

Quantum Levitation

What did you learn recently?

DISCUSS!

Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Oct 18, 2011 at http://www.braincrave.com/viewblog.php?id=658

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