Assuming you could get the magnet into the box and the "walls" of the box the right way round would the magnet in the middle float??
2006-07-09 04:04:28 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
You could solve the problem of getting it perfectly centered in the box by using magnets that all have the same orientation (i.e. all positive or north) including the one in the center. This would cause a negative-feedback cycle- as one of the magnets neared a wall, it would feel a greater repulsion force from that magnet, pushing it back. It would eventually establish equilibrium. The magnets don't even have to be the same strength, as long as one isn't too overpowering.
2006-07-09 04:27:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kinda answered yourself there. It may float, but it needs to repel gravity so magnets would have to be on the bottom as well. the magnets on the side would repel it from bouncing around and flipping, but a lid made of magnets would help too. Your best bet for a floating magnet would be to put a magnet over an opposing magnet with a brace, such as an evenly sized box or a round magnet with a hole in the middle on a bar.
2006-07-09 11:12:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. In fact, I have three magnets that I'm looking at right now. Two are ring magnets from a microwave oven, and one is a block magnet from Radio Shack. The RS magnet fits inside the hole of the two ring magnets. It just sits there, dead center, not touching anything. Kinda cool, really.
2006-07-09 11:09:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot depends on which way the magnet poles were oriented.
Then you would have to position the middle magnet JUST right and that would be difficult - one mm off either side and it would fly to a wall.
2006-07-09 11:10:31 · answer #4 · answered by Skypilot49 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a magnet box? Sweet!
2006-07-09 13:33:17 · answer #5 · answered by Sunder Zombie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely it would re-orient itself to the weakest portion of the field and head there...
The balancing act is possible but you still have to prevent external perturbations from disturbing the balance... check out magnetic bearings to see how to levitate stuff...
2006-07-09 11:09:57 · answer #6 · answered by Steve D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it's distances from the sides is the same it will be balanced and nothing will happen but if they are different it magnifies to the closest side
2006-07-09 11:21:28 · answer #7 · answered by samane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it should
2006-07-09 12:14:33 · answer #8 · answered by iammisc 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋