Frictionless Sliding Magnet

[radaballer]

I am attempting to build a linear induction flashlight. I was wondering if the concept below could be used to make the magnet slide down a pole inside a coil with no friction. The interior of a tube magnet with an S polarity would slide down the S end of a rod magnet, that way the inside of the tube would be equally repelled on all sides making the fall frictionless. Could this concept work? Also, would this continuous interaction between the magnets cause either of the magnets to become demagnetized if a neodymium magnet is used? Is there an easier way to create a frictionless fall? Any advice at all on how to make this work? (the tube magnet would not be a monopole) (sorry for any misused terms)

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Thanks for the post! Sorry you aren't generating responses at the moment. Do you have any further information, come to any new conclusions or is it possible to reword the post?

 

[lightbender]

Can you explain this to me a little bit more?

 

[CWatters]

I was wondering if the concept below could be used to make the magnet slide down a pole inside a coil with no friction. The interior of a tube magnet with an S polarity would slide down the S end of a rod magnet, that way the inside of the tube would be equally repelled on all sides making the fall frictionless.

As drawn you don't have a south pole on the sides of the pole, only on the bottom end. If you try and fix that by arranging a lot of little magnets radially to make a pole that is S on the outside and N on the inside you will find that the further from the end you get the weaker the effect. At any significant distance from the end there will be no field. There are easier ways to reduce friction.

 

[sardar]

Thank you for your question. The concept you have described is known as a magnetic levitation system, where the repulsive force between two magnets is used to suspend one magnet in mid-air. While this concept can work in theory, there are some practical challenges that need to be addressed in order to achieve a truly frictionless sliding motion.

Firstly, the magnets used in this system must have very strong and uniform magnetic fields in order to create a stable and consistent repulsive force. Neodymium magnets are a good choice for this application, but they must be carefully selected and positioned in order to avoid any demagnetization.

Secondly, the tube magnet must be precisely aligned with the rod magnet in order to prevent any unwanted lateral forces that could cause friction. This can be achieved by using a guide or rail system for the tube magnet to slide along.

Lastly, the materials used for the magnets and their surroundings must have very low friction coefficients in order to minimize any resistance to the sliding motion. This could be achieved by using materials such as Teflon or graphite.

Overall, while the concept of a frictionless sliding magnet is possible in theory, it may be challenging to achieve in practice due to the precise alignment and materials required. There may be other ways to create a frictionless fall, such as using an air cushion or a magnetic field generated by an electromagnet. I would recommend conducting further research and experimentation to determine the most effective and feasible method for your specific application.