I was thinking... if something had a strong and far enough magnetic energy, enough to pull a human, then we could use magnets to move between point A and point B. Stupid idea? Probably.

It would be pretty cool, but magnetic attraction drops off steeply with distance, much more than with gravity, which also gets weaker the farther away it is. Magnets strong enough to reach across travel distances would surely attract other magnetic materials too. 

4 minutes ago, Phi for All said:

It would be pretty cool, but magnetic attraction drops off steeply with distance, much more than with gravity, which also gets weaker the farther away it is. Magnets strong enough to reach across travel distances would surely attract other magnetic materials too. 

Well, uhh maybe keep it away from other magnetic materials, I guess. Just wanted to say it since it seemed cool.

41 minutes ago, Goldside543 said:

if something had a strong and far enough magnetic energy, enough to pull a human, then we could use magnets to move between point A and point B.

It is demonstrated here: 

 

1 minute ago, Genady said:

It is demonstrated here: 

 

Ooooh, cool!

Repulsion + propulsion = maglev train.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev

 

 

They occasionally have to scrape Bond villains off the tracks.

Actual maglev demo. No Bond villains were harmed in making the video.

 

You could use a multistage system ala a multistage coilgun to get where you’re going to avoid ridiculously strong magnetic fields.

Edited August 11, 20232 yr by Steve81