Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / Quantum Levitation

Author
Message
Fallout
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 1st Sep 2002
Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 18th Oct 2011 16:04
Link
So I saw this video today, and thought it was epically cool. One step closer to hoverboards!! Then I thought, if this thing has to be in a superconductive state by being uber cold, does it have any practical use in the real world?



Back to top
Profile PM
Zotoaster
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Dec 2004
Location: Scotland
Posted: 18th Oct 2011 16:35
Link
That's incredible! I can't claim to understand quantum mechanics very well (as Richard Feynman once put it, "If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don't understand quantum mechanics"), but technology and science evolve in a funny way. Many people wouldn't have even thought this was remotely possible a few decades ago, maybe one day we'll discover we can achieve this without having super-cold objects.

I realise I'm probably speaking out of ignorance, and anyone with more knowledge than me about QM might think I just don't know wtf I'm talking about, but hey, you start with an irrational dream and go from there. Look how far we've got since Back to the Future gave us that dream?

"everyone forgets a semi-colon sometimes." - Phaelax
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Fallout
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 1st Sep 2002
Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 18th Oct 2011 16:39
Link
I admit, I started watching it looking for the wire, and trying to work out where the CGI errors were. Then I had to conclude it was real. It's definitely the stuff of science fiction. I can't wait for the sun to burn out so we can live in an absolute zero environment and fly around on hoverboards.

Must remember to buy a warm coat.

Back to top
Profile PM
Veron
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Nov 2006
Location:
Posted: 18th Oct 2011 20:03
Link
Superconductors have been used in high speed rail networks, and have the potential to be great for power transmission as there is no resistance, so they certainly have many many applications in the real world.

For a hoverboard though, who knows. One day hopefully!

[url=http://steamcard.com/]
Back to top
Profile PM
Indicium
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th May 2008
Location:
Posted: 18th Oct 2011 21:00
Link
Sweet, I did a little bit of googling after I found this and there's a few uses here:

http://www.superconductors.org/Uses.htm

Back to top
Profile PM
CoffeeGrunt
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Oct 2007
Location: England
Posted: 18th Oct 2011 21:10
Link
How...it just can't...

My mind cannot accept this. It simply doesn't react to forces at all, no real momentum when he tilts it, no gravity.

It's so perfectly held in place that my brain is instantly yelling "shopped," because it simply doesn't look natural!

Back to top
Profile PM Email
xplosys
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jan 2006
Playing: FPSC Multiplayer Games
Posted: 18th Oct 2011 21:25
Link
That is super cool!



See what I did there?

Back to top
Profile PM
CoffeeGrunt
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Oct 2007
Location: England
Posted: 18th Oct 2011 21:32
Link
Eh, it needs to be about 20% cooler...

Back to top
Profile PM Email
WLGfx
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 1st Nov 2007
Location: NW United Kingdom
Posted: 18th Oct 2011 21:45
Link
He's not wearing gloves though!

Wouldn't his fingers get stuck?

Mental arithmetic? Me? (That's for computers) I can't subtract a fart from a plate of beans!
Warning! May contain Nuts!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Neuro Fuzzy
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 11th Jun 2007
Location:
Posted: 19th Oct 2011 00:35
Link
Quote: "Wouldn't his fingers get stuck?
"

I think that's really only a risk if your fingers are wet.

Quote: "Superconductors have been used in high speed rail networks"

RAILROAD HOVERBOARDING!

Back to top
Profile PM Email
TheComet
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Oct 2007
Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 19th Oct 2011 01:12
Link
lol "NO is lock. LOCK!! LOOOCK!!!"

Here's his website : http://www.quantumlevitation.com/levitation/Quantum_Levitation.html

I'm not so sure about this one, but it is very interesting, and does look cool

TheComet

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Fluffy Rabbit
User Banned
Posted: 19th Oct 2011 03:07
Link
I don't see how this applies to repelling the magnetic field of the earth. Sure, you have a supermagnet on a ferromagnet plate spinning around, but how is that different from stuff we've already seen? Temperature isn't as much an issue to me as the practicality of laying a long magnetic track.
Back to top
Profile
Benjamin
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Nov 2002
Location: France
Posted: 19th Oct 2011 05:49
Link
That's cool, but this is cooler: http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-09/nasa-levitates-mouse.



Support a charitable indie game project!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Veron
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Nov 2006
Location:
Posted: 19th Oct 2011 11:04
Link
Quote: "I don't see how this applies to repelling the magnetic field of the earth. Sure, you have a supermagnet on a ferromagnet plate spinning around, but how is that different from stuff we've already seen? Temperature isn't as much an issue to me as the practicality of laying a long magnetic track. "


Yeah, I was thinking along the same lines, it's not anything new, but plenty of people who haven't studied this stuff haven't seen it before.

When there's a material created with a higher Tc, that is, the temperature at which it becomes a superconductor, then we can start really looking at applications and not just cool stuff like this (get it?) . At the moment it's still at the stage where we're needing to cool things to -200 degrees celsius and below to get the supeconductive properties.

[url=http://steamcard.com/]
Back to top
Profile PM
TheComet
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Oct 2007
Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 19th Oct 2011 17:37
Link
Why can't he turn the thing upside down so the other side of the superconductor is facing the magnet?

TheComet

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Zotoaster
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Dec 2004
Location: Scotland
Posted: 19th Oct 2011 18:19
Link
Quote: "Why can't he turn the thing upside down so the other side of the superconductor is facing the magnet?"


Why can't he or why didn't he?

"everyone forgets a semi-colon sometimes." - Phaelax
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Veron
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Nov 2006
Location:
Posted: 19th Oct 2011 18:33
Link
People might find this interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lmtbLu5nxw&feature=related

[url=http://steamcard.com/]
Back to top
Profile PM
TheComet
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Oct 2007
Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 19th Oct 2011 23:00 Edited at: 19th Oct 2011 23:04
Link
Quote: "Why can't he or why didn't he?"


Why didn't he?

I've been doing some researching, and I've come to the conclusion that this is indeed real, there's no question abuot it. In fact, it was already known back in 1965.

This documentation is well worth checking out : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLWUtUZvOP8&feature=related

Very informative, and quite easy to understand.

[EDIT] This one also isn't bad : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4XEQVnIFmQ

I don't know how the phrase "quantum levitation" came about though, that still puzzles me.

TheComet

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Veron
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 22nd Nov 2006
Location:
Posted: 20th Oct 2011 07:09
Link
Of course it's real haha, like I said, it's used in so many applications around the world.

Quantum levitation is a pretty bad name for it, but superconductivity is a quantum mechanical thing, so it sort of makes sense.

[url=http://steamcard.com/]
Back to top
Profile PM
Da_Rhyno
13
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th May 2011
Location:
Posted: 20th Oct 2011 07:11
Link
Quote: "[EDIT] This one also isn't bad : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4XEQVnIFmQ"


What's odd is I've had dreams about trains just like that at the beginning, flying through levitating hoops.
Back to top
Profile PM
TheComet
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Oct 2007
Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 20th Oct 2011 08:29
Link
Quote: "Of course it's real haha, like I said, it's used in so many applications around the world."


Honestly, this is the first time I've heard of it

TheComet

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
CoffeeGrunt
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Oct 2007
Location: England
Posted: 20th Oct 2011 14:42
Link
Neither have I...

Back to top
Profile PM Email
Rampage
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Feb 2008
Location: New Zealand
Posted: 20th Oct 2011 15:53
Link
First time I have heard of this as well. Which surprises me.
I'm quite a science geek

Regards,

Max
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Kezzla
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Aug 2008
Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 20th Oct 2011 18:23
Link
there's a cool video somewhere on youtube of a train model using the idea



Sometimes I like to use words out of contents
Back to top
Profile PM
Plystire
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Feb 2003
Location: Staring into the digital ether
Posted: 22nd Oct 2011 03:46
Link
Quote: "What's odd is I've had dreams about trains just like that at the beginning, flying through levitating hoops."


What I'd like to know is, if the hoops are helping the train to levitate, then what's levitating the hoops? And why isn't the train using the hoops' method of levitation?


~Plystire

A rose is only a rose until it is held and cherished -- then it becomes a treasure.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Wolf
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Nov 2007
Location: Luxemburg
Posted: 22nd Oct 2011 04:20 Edited at: 22nd Oct 2011 04:20
Link
Quote: "What I'd like to know is, if the hoops are helping the train to levitate, then what's levitating the hoops? And why isn't the train using the hoops' method of levitation? "


Greetings and welcome to another episode of: Wolf invents a levitating train.

1.The hoops levitate due to their geometrical architecture that allows them to push themselves away from earth gravitational-magnetic field.
The train uses the same technology but requires the hoops to not loose track and follow these special gravitation fields.

2.The hoops might use some sort of levitation machinery that allows them to levitate, but not to move forward. The train however moves via a magnetic system that pushes it through them and forward.

3.The hoops levitate and so does the train, but the hoops produce power for the trains engines to make it move forward.

4.Its an inverse gravity vehicle constraction that actually makes sence.

5... hoop is not a real word, is it?

6. I have to add: I'm currently pretty hammered...its 03:19 and I should get some sleep

Matter is energy condensed to a slow vibration, we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively Theres no such thing as death,life is only a dream,and were the imagination of ourselves.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
CoffeeGrunt
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Oct 2007
Location: England
Posted: 22nd Oct 2011 16:47
Link
@Kezzla

If anything that's a better example than the one in the OP. Alot more visual...

Back to top
Profile PM Email
Daniel TGC
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Feb 2007
Location: TGC
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 03:58 Edited at: 23rd Oct 2011 04:01
Link
There's only one possible use for this technology.

BACK TO THE FUTURE HOVER BOARDS!!!!!

P.S. I'm still looking for the wires myself, I never believe this sort of thing unless it's performed right in front of me. Convincing video though.

Think McFly, think!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Kezzla
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Aug 2008
Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 05:10
Link
Quote: "P.S. I'm still looking for the wires myself, I never believe this sort of thing unless it's performed right in front of me. Convincing video though."


It is real, I tried looking into them a few years ago and it broke my head. the best I could understand it is that if the material reaches its superconductive temperature while in the presence of a magnetic field then it will lock on to that exact position of the magnetic field.

sorta like a 2d plane with like poles on either side not letting it move.

If the day ever comes where they can make room temperature superconductors things will be awesome.

Sometimes I like to use words out of contents
Back to top
Profile PM
Daniel TGC
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Feb 2007
Location: TGC
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 05:19
Link
Again, when I see it I'll believe it. I never trust video's on the net. I trust things even less when explanations start breaking peoples brains lol, I tend to assume there's a trick being played, or they discovered something worked by don't quite understand why it works themselves. Most things once understood can be broken down into an understandable concept, even if the math behind proving that concept is insanely difficult for mere morals.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Kezzla
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Aug 2008
Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 05:36 Edited at: 23rd Oct 2011 05:53
Link
The scientific explanation can be a bit overwhelming if you havn't studied physics and maths (like me)

not the same but still on topic



also cool


do not try that one at home,It requires lethal power and my friend and I nearly burned our house down trying to get this to work. scary stuff

Sometimes I like to use words out of contents
Back to top
Profile PM
WLGfx
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 1st Nov 2007
Location: NW United Kingdom
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 05:56
Link
Still gives me the chills and remembering that film where he gets his tongue stuck...

Teleportation is next I believe...

So long as it doesn't give me cold chills and goose bumps...

Mental arithmetic? Me? (That's for computers) I can't subtract a fart from a plate of beans!
Warning! May contain Nuts!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Daniel TGC
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Feb 2007
Location: TGC
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 06:03
Link
Programming is mathematics

I hate it when people call those lift devices levitation. It's not, it's plain old thrust, it just sucks air in the top and forces it downwards. I also hate the way people pass this off as anti gravity technology. We still don't know what gravity even is lol we can see its effects and measure it, but as to the nature of gravity and why it's one of the weakest forces, is under heavy debate and study. Anyway gravity still applies to those lifter devices, and I'll leave it there before I start to rant! Err... More.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Kezzla
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Aug 2008
Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 06:14
Link
Yeah, that's why I shared that particular lifter video rather than a flashier pseudoscience version.

I guess I see the videos relevance as using electricity to make things float.

yeah, programming is maths, however (for me) going into deep end scientific maths requires understanding of existing concepts and abbreviations in order to properly grasp the idea. Thats where I get overwhelmed and stuck. I'm generally ok with concepts, i just dont speak the maths language (yet)

The wiki page for superconductivity seems to have decent info on it if your good with the deep end stuff.

Sometimes I like to use words out of contents
Back to top
Profile PM
Pincho Paxton
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Dec 2002
Location:
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 15:38
Link
It's the Aether.. bring back the Aether!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH9vAIdMqng

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Chris Tate
DBPro Master
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 29th Aug 2008
Location: London, England
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 16:46
Link
This is handy information for my science fiction project

What’s your best game moment?
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Wolf
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Nov 2007
Location: Luxemburg
Posted: 23rd Oct 2011 20:29
Link
@Chris Tate: haha! Yeah! I thought the same.

Matter is energy condensed to a slow vibration, we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively Theres no such thing as death,life is only a dream,and were the imagination of ourselves.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Seppuku Arts
Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 24th Oct 2011 20:36 Edited at: 24th Oct 2011 20:37
Link
One very simple explanation I found was:

They're two magnets repelling and attracting at the exact same time. Dunno how accurate it is, but I'm not a Quantum scientist, nor any kid of scientist, maybe 'science fiction writer' is the closest I am to being a scientist. It paints the picture for me though - after all magnets are in a fixed state when they attract, it's just they're fixed to the other magnet, however, this method means it can be fixed at any point within the magnetic field.

Think maybe in a code, you could have a force acting on an object, but you cancel it out.

force = 1

inc PosY, force
dec PosY, force

Or in this case:

force = 1
inc Attraction, force
dec Attraction, force

Where it would normally be either 'inc' or 'dec' when using normal magnets. At least I hope my rather basic analogy is a good enough representation, but maybe somebody will come in and say "ZOMG UR SO RONG" and I'll welcome it!

Back to top
Profile PM Website
Diggsey
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Apr 2006
Location: On this web page.
Posted: 24th Oct 2011 21:32 Edited at: 24th Oct 2011 21:33
Link
I made an image to show how I think it works.

The green is a piece of super-conducting material. Iron and other magnetic materials have billions of tiny magnetic dipoles in them, which can change direction freely and on average add up to zero, so there is no magnetic field. When you bring a magnet near to iron it causes all the dipoles to line up in the direction of the field lines. The magnetic field of the iron is no longer zero and so the magnet attracts the iron.

With a super-conducting material, as you cool it past the point where it becomes super-conducting, the directions of the dipoles are fixed in place in whatever direction they were last facing. This is shown at the top of the image. Then, when you move the super-conducting material to a different place the field lines no longer match up and so it will be pulled back to its original position, because of the way the field lines curve it will always cause a force in the opposite direction to that in which it has been moved.



[b]

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2025-05-23 14:54:56
Your offset time is: 2025-05-23 14:54:56