Hey,

 

this is actually a lab I am designing, and I've run into a few problems that I can't seem to figure out.

 

I will be having 4 neodymium magnets attached to me (2 per shoe) with there being a switch to allow/turn off an electrical current to the magnets.

 

I also have a sheet of steel, which I will step onto.

Now, when I step onto in, the magnets will be attracted, but when I flip on the current, behold they repel, and propulsion is created.

 

My problem is that, in designing I overlooked the fact that, normal steel, will attract both poles. Which puts a major kink in my plan.

 

I was wondering if anyone knew any techniques to make the steel act like a magnet, with the ability to attract/repel?

 

Thanks!

Being a theoretician the following idea might be completely impractical/impossible, but:

- Can't you just just start with a magnetized substance instead of a (initially unmagnetized?) steel plate? Iron is what I know as the typical ferromagnet. The property for the material you also need -the initial magnetization of the plate not flipping because of your shoes- is called "magnetic hardness", I think.

- Or put other electromagnets under the plate (and perhaps switch to a plastic plate, then).

 

Some other piece of advice: Have you looked at the estimated numbers? Do you expect a half-ways decent acceleration force with a current you still want to have running through your shoes, for example?

Yeah, haha, I have thought about getting another material.

 

Will Iron work as I want it too though? I want to be able to switch it from attraction to repel.

 

I've punched in some numbers, and in theory, it's possible, and will be a steady lift.

 

The current will be coming from a source on the my shoes, so it should be fine.

 

The total magnetic force, with my weight taken away is 110 pounds extra.

Some of that will be lost to energy loss and such, but should still provide enough "umph" for there to be lift.

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How can I make it so steel will attract to one pole and repel to another pole?

 

If not steel, then please offer examples of other easily obtainable metals!

 

Thanks!!!

For example iron that was previously magnetized. But: The magnetization must be stable enough not to change when you switch on your electromagnets (which is what I called "magnetic hardness"). So magnetizing the iron with the electromagnets before the experiment seems to be ruled out as an option.

Sadly, I do not have any other ideas except perhaps placing additional electromagnets under the plate and have them running all the time.

Okay.

 

Could I place permament magnets under the steel, instead of electromagnets, and if I do so, if I want the magnets I have on my person, would it be fine if the magnets under the steel were of weaker pull force, aslong as they are secured?

When you get this working, why don't you post a video? I'd like to see this in action )

I'm pretty sure that you simply need another magnet.

 

Maglev trains also require magnets both in the train and on the rails...

 

It's not always a valid thing to say, but: If it would be so simple then somebody would have invented it by now.

If common steel would be able to somehow repel a magnet, then the Maglev boys would certainly use that in stead of their complicated system.

You might not achieve thrust, but you might find that you will float on it, like a futuristic skating rink! I hope you can make it work!

Good Luck!

Well, a Halbach array will generate repulsive force against a steel plate, but only while moving - the lift increases with speed, but is zero at rest.

maybe you could use electric current in coils under an aluminum plate to generate eddy currents in the aluminum plate that have a magnetic field strong enough to levitate a magnet above the aluminum plate.

It looks like I was wrong about the skating rink thing. But would it work on a large neodymium magnet? We may never know, since a good neodymium magnet about the width of the rim of a normal size cup can be over a hundred dollars. But Moth's idea doesn't sound half bad! I don't know all that much, but it sounds quite plausible!

maybe you could use two different materials. one for each opposite side of the magnets on your shoes, and all have opposite currents.