CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background A diamagnetic substance is one whose atoms have no permanent magnetic dipole moment.

When an external magnetic field is applied to a diamagnetic substance such as bismuth or silver a weak magnetic dipole moment is induced in the direction opposite the applied field. Diamagnetic objects are repelled by magnetic fields. Diamagnetic substances include water, protein, diamond, DNA, plastic, wood, and many other common substances usually thought of as nonmagnetic. Bismuth and graphite are the elements with the strongest diamagnetism, about 20 times greater than water. Diamagnetic Levitation occurs by bringing a diamagnetic material in close proximity to material that produces a magnetic field. The diamagnetic material will repel the material producing the magnetic field. Generally, however, this repulsive force is not strong enough to overcome the force of gravity on the Earth's surface. To cause diamagnetic levitation, both the diamagnetic material and magnetic material must produce a combined repulsive force to overcome the force of gravity. There are numbers of ways to achieve this: Placing Diamagnetic Material in Strong Electromagnetic Fields Modern Electromagnets are capable of producing extremely strong magnetic fields. These electromagnets have been used to levitate many diamagnetic

materials including weakly diamagnetic materials such as organic matter. A popular educational demonstration involves the placement of small frogs into a strong static electromagnetic field. The frog, being composed of primarily

water, acts as a weak diamagnet and is levitated.

Placing Diamagnetic Material in Strong Magnetic Fields Advancements in the development of permanent magnets and diamagnetic materials such as pyrolytic graphite have produced a simple method of diamagnetic levitation by simply placing a thin piece of pyrolytic graphite over a strong rare-earth magnet. The pyrolytic graphite is levitated above the magnet.

Placing Magnetic Material in Strong Diamagnetic Fields Developments in superconducting materials have produced an easy and dramatic method of demonstrating diamagnetic levitation. A superconductor will not allow a magnetic field to penetrate its interior. It causes currents to flow that generate a magnetic field inside the superconductor that balances the field that would have otherwise penetrated the material. By placing a strong permanent magnet above a superconductor, the magnet will levitate.

Placing Magnetic Material in Diamagnetic Fields with a Biasing Magnet The last method, and most easily duplicated by the average individual, uses a combination of readily available rare-earth magnets and diamagnetic material such as graphite graphite or bismuth. Through the use of a biasing or

compensating magnet, a small rare-earth magnet can be levitated above a piece of diamagnetic material. For added stability, the small magnet is generally placed between two pieces of diamagnetic material.

This approach can be used to make very stable permanent magnet levitators that work at room temperature without superconductors and without energy input. In this project, we choose to place diamagnetic material in strong magnetic fields.

1.2 Objective The objectives of this research were: a) To understand the concept of placing diamagnetic material in strong electromagnetic fields. b) To examine the levitation concept in strong magnetic fields. c) To demonstrate and explain the levitation effect of the flying frog.

1.3 Scope Our project will focus primarily on designing, demonstrating and explaining the levitation effect of the flying frog. Besides, we calculated the cost of the materials needed. The result of the calculation is taken into account.

1.4 Organisation In this report, we start with Chapter 1. Chapter 1 is a basic framework for our project. In this chapter, background, objective, scope and organization are presented. Chapter 2 is the discussion on methods, materials and procedure. We did some research on the internet to find information about the flying frog. Plus, to understand more on the concept we search for videos of the existed flying frog project. Then, we carried on by designing the model. Following of that, the result is covered in Chapter 3. Lastly, in Chapter 4, we compiled all our information that we obtain from Chapter 1, 2 and 3 and draw out conclusions. As for cost needed to go on with this project, we need expensive components and items, where the pyrolytic graphite must be ordered because it is a control material. Plus, the permanent magnets are very hard to find.

CHAPTER 2 METHOD 2.1 Methods 2.1.1 Internet articles To understand the concept of placing diamagnetic material in strong electromagnetic fields, we had searched the World Wide Web to look for the information about levitation effect on flying frog. We had searched on how the frog can levitate and fly in a strong magnetic field. The sources of data are obtained from public archival and online database. Researches from the internet such as IEEE web explorer are also done in order to get the information about this levitation model. 2.1.2 Experimental. A levitation model can be made by using permanent magnet, pyrolytic graphite and frog model. Levitation model functions by alternating poles to create a strong magnetic field gradient. Because diamagnetic materials are repelled by either pole, the magnets are placed with alternating north and south poles that stick to one another and create a magnetic gradient that centres the pyrolytic graphite material. Another method is by using pencil with permanent magnet.

2.2

Materials Table 1: Apparatus list Apparatus Permanent Magnet Pyrolytic Graphite Frog Model Pencil Wood Glue Quantity 6 1 1 1 1 1

2.3

Procedure

First experiment 1. The permanent magnets were arranged by different poles to create a strong magnetic field gradient. 2. The permanent magnets were placed on a flat level surface. 3. The pyrolytic graphite was placed on the permanent magnets. 4. The pyrolytic graphite was release gently when a strong force can be felt. 5. The pyrolytic graphite was observed either its floating or not.

Second experiment 1. The 4 permanent magnet were attached to the wood by using the glue. 2. The permanent magnet was arranged by different poles to create magnetic field gradient.

3. By using 2 permanent magnet with holes in them, placed it to both end of the pencil. 4. Then, the pencil was placed on the permanent magnet that are attached to the wood. 5. The pencil was observed whether it floating while spinning or not.

Precautions 1. The levitation model should not be put near a computer or other electronic device due to its magnetic fields. 2. Make sure the permanent magnets are arranged accordingly. If the permanent magnets are not in position the prolytic graphite will not work properly. 3. Do not drop the permanent magnets on a hard surface. Dropping the permanent magnets may damage it or its magnetic fields.

CHAPTER 3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Results Magnets affect materials in one of three ways, attraction, non-attraction (neutral) and repulsion. Diamagnetism refers to an objects weak repulsion from an magnetic field. There are no poles connected with diamagnetism. The north pole of a magnet repels the material just as well as the south pole. Just like a north pole of a magnet will attract iron just as well as the south pole. Graphite is diamagnetic. Pyrolytic graphite is 10000X more diamagnetic than most common diamagnetic materials such as water. Thin slices of pyrolytic graphite are extremely light and can be made to levitate, whereas pyrolytic graphite can levitate at room temperature. Levitation is achieved by alternating poles to create a strong magnetic field gradient. Because diamagnetic materials are repelled by either pole, we can place the magnets with alternating north and south poles that stick to one another and create a magnetic gradient that centers the pyrolytic graphite material.

Figure 1: Four opposing magnets.

Figure 2: Levitating pyrolytic graphite.

Nevertheless, we do not achieve the objective of the project which allows the frog to fly. We are only able to levitate the frog.

3.2 Discussion Diamagnetic materials develop persistent atomic currents which oppose externally applied magnetic fields. Pyrolytic Graphite is a synthetic material that is similar to graphite. It is produced by the decomposition of a hydrocarbon gas at very high temperature in a vacuum furnace. Pyrolytic graphite has a single cleavage plane, similar to mica. Pyrolytic graphite exhibits the greatest diamagnetism of any room temperature solid (by weight) making it possible to levitate thin slices over rare earth magnets. In this project, we used pyrolytic graphite (first experiment) and pencil with permanent magnet (second experiment) as a diamagnetic material since frogs are made up of millions and billions of atoms. Each of these atoms contains electrons that whizz around a central nucleus, but when atoms are in a magnetic field, the electrons shift their orbits slightly. These shifts give the atoms their own magnetic field so when a frog is put in a very strong magnetic field, it is essentially made up of lots of tiny magnets. Frogs only fit to this project if it is placed in a tube shaped bitter electromagnet. This is because bitter electromagnets use an electric current to create an extremely strong magnetic field and this field induces an opposite magnetic field in the frog. The opposing fields repel each other, pushing the frog up to an area of lower magnetism and levitating it. Nevertheless, it is very difficult for us to buy bitter electromagnet as it is only available in other country. It is also possible to levitate a magnet at a location where it is stable vertically but unstable horizontally. In that case a hollow diamagnetic cylinder can be used to stabilize the horizontal motion. We did this project at room temperature which the effect is very small, and is not nearly enough to levitate an object.

CHAPTER 4 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 Recommendation. From this levitation model project the recommendation is by using the strong diamagnetic material. There are many types of diamagnetic materials according to the table below: Material Bismuth Carbon (diamond) Carbon (graphite) Copper Lead Mercury Silver Water Superconductor (SI Units) -16.6 -2.1 -1.6 -1.0 -1.8 -2.9 -2.6 -0.91 -105

In this project, we choose pyrolytic graphite as diamagnetic material because it is cheaper and affordable compared to bismuth which is the strongest diamagnetic materials. As a matter of fact, we recommend bismuth as diamagnetic material in levitation project. Also, we cannot use a cheap permanent magnet because the current cheapest permanent magnets, allowing for field strengths, are flexible and ceramic magnets, but these are also among the weakest types. Neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are among the

strongest. These cost more per kilogram than most other magnetic materials but, owing to their intense field, are smaller and cheaper in many applications. In addition, it is also possible to levitate a magnet at a location where it is stable vertically but unstable horizontally. In that case a hollow diamagnetic cylinder can be used to stabilize the horizontal motion. 4.2 Conclusion. From the levitation model project that we have done, we understood the general knowledge and the concept of placing diamagnetic material in strong magnetic and electromagnetic fields. We have examined the levitation concept in strong magnetic fields. Notwithstanding, the third objective is not successful because the object is not able to fly but only levitate at a single point. From the research that we had done, magnetic levitation is used for maglev trains, magnetic bearings and for product display purposes.

References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_precipit ator#Collection_efficiency_.28R.29 http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/t-magnetic-levitation.aspx http://www.physics.org/explorelink.asp?id=284&q=diamagnetic%20levitation&curre ntpage=1&age=0&knowledge=0&item=4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field