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The little magnet in the sculpture is touching nothing but air in this unique kinetic piece featuring diamagnetic flotation of a small magnet. This new, yet simple, technology requires no power of any kind — just a balancing of bismuth crystals and magnetism.
This little handcrafted device challenges most people's understanding of magnetism. which is just far more complex than our secondary schools let on. Consider the phenomenon of diamagnetism. Bismuth happens to be the metal with the greatest amount of diamagnetism, which means it repels north and south poles of magnets equally. As exemplified here, a magnet can effortlessly and permanently escape the effect of our massive planet's gravitational pull. It capitalizes on the push over pull aspect of the magnetic force. The top magnet attracts the small magnet with enough force to lighten it. Just a little bit. The diamagnetic force of the bottom bismuth crystal can then push the little cube off its surface without pushing it too high into the upper magnet's attractive field. That way it achieves balance in a repulsive pocket of stability between a pair of larger attractive fields, magnetism and gravity.
It might take a couple of YouTube videos to wrap your head around it, but the challenge is what will make it interesting. *Please note - The magnet will stay levitated but will not spin continuously. To start the spin again, simply blow on it with a straw or move the maglev slightly to start the spin again.*
Use the words kinetic, gravity-defying, magnets, physics - the general vernacular of my beloved geekdom, and this is what you'll describe. “How is it doing that?" or "Where are the batteries? ” are common reactions. Either way, get ready for a shift in the conversation.
Handcrafted Magnetic Levitation Sculpture
•Gift for the uber gadget geek!•Includes one made to order sculpture with magnets•Measures approximately 6” tall and 5/8” in diameter•Made with bismuth metal•Magnets for floatingTwo- 3mm cubesTwo- 4mm cubeOne- 4mm cylinder(Extra magnets are available for purchase.) HERE’S HOW IT WORKS1. Place the sculpture on a level surface2. Slip the cube magnet in the open notch3. Watch it float and spin for hours…days…years, it’s up to you.
See this gravity-defying creation in magnets are not for children. Small magnets can pose a choking hazard. If multiple magnets are swallowed, they can attach to one another through intestine walls. This can cause a severe health risk, requiring immediate, emergency surgery if correctly diagnosed.
**Neodymium magnets can affect pacemakers.The strong magnetic fields near a neodymium magnet can affect pacemakers, ICDs and other implanted medical devices. Many of these devices are made with a feature that deactivates it with a magnetic field. Therefore, care must be taken to avoid inadvertently deactivating such devices.
