Quantum levitation (amazing stuff)

[BERNIE MOSFET]

I think that in a hundred or so years when technology comes around magnetism will be the way of travel. It is an unparalleled source of force. Just have to wait on technology to come around in forms of boosters or something like it but a lot more powerful.

thats how aliens travel

1st time seeing this....pretty awesome. As I was watching it the first thing I thought of was UFO's and if this is one of the methods used to travel.

That's not entirely implausible. I was thinking the same thing when I watched it last night. I figured if they've mastered the technology there really isn't a reason they couldn't use the earth's magnetic field to do something of the sort.

I think it's much more likely that mastery of force due to gravity leads to both interstellar travel and the ability to hold position over the planet.

Magnetic fields are directional. Except at the poles, the planetary magnetic field itself can't be made to work against the force due to gravity because the flux direction is generally somewhat parallel to the surface. Where it is normal to the surface, it's extremely weak relative to the weight of a vehicle.

I may be wrong, but I haven't seen a way that an external magnetic field can be amplified. Its easy to generate an extremely strong magnetic field, but the field strength falls off exponentially at distance. Maglev trains work because the field distance is so short and the flux direction is normal to the rails. The vehicle interacts with an applied external field to both counteract the force due to gravity and to move, but it doesn't create its own field as a form of propulsion.

Magnetism alone as a source of propulsion doesn't seem workable. Any magnetic field generated or manipulated in the vehicle has to interact with the environment to produce force. With the absence of magnetic material to repel, or to be attracted to - the vehicle isn't going to move.

Edit: on second thought, a flow of current at a right angle to an external magnetic field will create a force that could be opposite the force due to gravity - so it is possible to have a vehicle hover with the planetary magnetic field being parallel to the surface. It would be limited, and would need a huge current to lift a vehicle of any appreciable weight.

Edit 2: paramagnetic material would amplify a magnetic field.

[Ratt]

I think it's much more likely that mastery of force due to gravity leads to both interstellar travel and the ability to hold position over the planet.

Magnetic fields are directional. Except at the poles, the planetary magnetic field itself can't be made to work against the force due to gravity because the flux direction is generally somewhat parallel to the surface. Where it is normal to the surface, it's extremely weak relative to the weight of a vehicle.

I may be wrong, but I haven't seen a way that an external magnetic field can be amplified. Its easy to generate an extremely strong magnetic field, but the field strength falls off exponentially at distance. Maglev trains work because the field distance is so short and the flux direction is normal to the rails. The vehicle interacts with an applied external field to both counteract the force due to gravity and to move, but it doesn't create its own field as a form of propulsion.

Magnetism alone as a source of propulsion doesn't seem workable. Any magnetic field generated or manipulated in the vehicle has to interact with the environment to produce force. With the absence of magnetic material to repel, or to be attracted to - the vehicle isn't going to move.

Edit: on second thought, a flow of current at a right angle to an external magnetic field will create a force that could be opposite the force due to gravity - so it is possible to have a vehicle hover with the planetary magnetic field being parallel to the surface. It would be limited, and would need a huge current to lift a vehicle of any appreciable weight.

Edit 2: paramagnetic material would amplify a magnetic field.

Right, but since we are talking GIANT hypothetical and theoretical circumstances here, is it really implausible that a race of interstellar travelers centuries ahead of our species (in both technology and space travel) wouldn't have found a way to make this work as both a means of transportation and/or ship anchoring?

When I saw this video I immediately thought, "What if we could harness gravitational force this way, and even amplify it somehow to travel through space?" It is more likely that interstellar travel would rely more on the manipulation of gravitational fields and space skein, but the magnetic field is not entirely impossible.

[BERNIE MOSFET]

Right, but since we are talking GIANT hypothetical and theoretical circumstances here, is it really implausible that a race of interstellar travelers centuries ahead of our species (in both technology and space travel) wouldn't have found a way to make this work as both a means of transportation and/or ship anchoring?

When I saw this video I immediately thought, "What if we could harness gravitational force this way, and even amplify it somehow to travel through space?" It is more likely that interstellar travel would rely more on the manipulation of gravitational fields and space skein, but the magnetic field is not entirely impossible.

I'd never rule something out. My problem is that electricity and magnetism are inseparable - and so any solution that relies on very strong magnetic fields will also have very large electrical implications as well.

My first edit depends entirely on a resultant force of crossing a magnetic field and a electric current - hardly practical because the current required to generate any appreciable force from Earth's magnetic field is absurd.

[YALE]

You guys are talking about coupled magnetic fields. You would use the fields to remove the matter from in front of the object you intend to move, and repulse the object from the matter behind it. Your speed becomes limited by the density of your magnets. Someone posted an article on it a long time ago in Canada.

[BERNIE MOSFET]

You guys are talking about coupled magnetic fields. You would use the fields to remove the matter from in front of the object you intend to move, and repulse the object from the matter behind it. Your speed becomes limited by the density of your magnets. Someone posted an article on it a long time ago in Canada.

I don't think I follow. In atmosphere there's not a lot of matter to work with, and in space there's far, far less.

[majorownage]

Superconductors are already being used in travel. See maglev on wikipedia. Train with no moving parts! Amazing stuff.

The real problem is finding a material that will superconduct at high temperatures.

Interstellar travel will probably have nothing to do with superconducting. The only feasible way would be to somehow bend space.

[YALE]

I don't think I follow. In atmosphere there's not a lot of matter to work with, and in space there's far, far less.

Yeah, I'm not explaining it well.

[appelingogt]

I'm in the wrong field...thats fuckin sweet!!!

[BERNIE MOSFET]

I'm in the wrong field...thats fuckin sweet!!!

There's always potential in the magnetic field.

[Ratt]

There's always potential in the magnetic field.

LMAO!

[BajaBob]

unsearchable title = pass on repost.

No sense or humor = you

[Tyrone Biggums]

So, when do I get my muthafuckin' hover board?

[Randy]

I think it's much more likely that mastery of force due to gravity leads to both interstellar travel and the ability to hold position over the planet.

Magnetic fields are directional. Except at the poles, the planetary magnetic field itself can't be made to work against the force due to gravity because the flux direction is generally somewhat parallel to the surface. Where it is normal to the surface, it's extremely weak relative to the weight of a vehicle.

I may be wrong, but I haven't seen a way that an external magnetic field can be amplified. Its easy to generate an extremely strong magnetic field, but the field strength falls off exponentially at distance. Maglev trains work because the field distance is so short and the flux direction is normal to the rails. The vehicle interacts with an applied external field to both counteract the force due to gravity and to move, but it doesn't create its own field as a form of propulsion.

Magnetism alone as a source of propulsion doesn't seem workable. Any magnetic field generated or manipulated in the vehicle has to interact with the environment to produce force. With the absence of magnetic material to repel, or to be attracted to - the vehicle isn't going to move.

Edit: on second thought, a flow of current at a right angle to an external magnetic field will create a force that could be opposite the force due to gravity - so it is possible to have a vehicle hover with the planetary magnetic field being parallel to the surface. It would be limited, and would need a huge current to lift a vehicle of any appreciable weight.

Edit 2: paramagnetic material would amplify a magnetic field.

love this.... been looking at developing something on a much larger scale for quite some time.

[jw33]

[V8tt]

Fuck yeah! They have 4 years to make Back to the Future II real.

I've got the Delorean...let's go!

I don't think I follow. In atmosphere there's not a lot of matter to work with, and in space there's far, far less.

Dark matter ftw!