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- General configuration for spin stabilized magnetic levitation. The commercial Levitron
actually has a solid square base uniformly magnetized except for a circular region in the center. Ring magnets work fine
despite some patent claims that it is impossible to levitate over circular magnets[4].
- As the top moves off center its precession axis orients to the local field direction.
Without this reorientation, radial confinement would be impossible at the levitation height.
- Graphs of and as a function of height
above an ideal ring magnet with OD 10 cm and ID 6 cm. The stable levitation height
occurs where , K>0, and
. The levitation height is just above the inflection point of .
- Experimental setup for synchronous drive of the top to overcome slowing due to air resistance or to
increase the spin rate. By slowly increasing the spin, the upper spin limit can be observed.