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Hello, everyone!
I've finally finished a project for my Physics class:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=8857
This device suspends small, ferromagnetic objects in midair using an
electromagnet and a beam of light. The beam of light shines on a
phototransistor, which translates via a control circuit into current to the
electromagnet. An object in the path of the beam reduces the amount of light
incident on the phototransistor. As the object falls, more light reaches the
phototransistor, and the magnet gets stronger; as the object moves towards the
magnet, less light reaches the detector, translating into a weaker magnetic
field. The object reaches equilibruim, and hangs in midair!
I used Lego to build the frame and the light shields. As it turns out, the
LED's and the phototransistors fit quite well into the technic holes. Using
Lego saved quite a bit of time, as opposed to machining an apparatus. It also
allowed me to play with Lego while working on my final project! ;-)
Sorry to all of the Purists out there - Lego does not yet make electromagnets
or Phototransistors or op-amps. Don't worry, I'll be back to building pure
Lego mecha in no time...
Chris
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Message has 6 Replies:
 | | Re: Magnetic Levitator
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| Amazing work Chris! Seeing metallic objects suspended in air never gets dull. ;-) I also really like how you integrated all the electronic into the LEGO frame. Impressive, most impressive... (...) (23 years ago, 6-Dec-01, to lugnet.build, lugnet.general)
| | | Re: Magnetic Levitator
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| whoa, that so cool! Gary Christopher Snead <Legosapiens@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:Gnxw4z.L2n@lugnet.com... (...) the (...) light (...) the (...) the (...) magnetic (...) the (...) Using (...) also (...) electromagnets (...) pure (...) (23 years ago, 7-Dec-01, to lugnet.build, lugnet.general)
| | | Re: Magnetic Levitator
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| (...) Excellent job Chris! I love what I see! When can we expect to see you destroy most of Tokyo with this device? :) (...) Excuse me? I don't need to be built and you know this...sheesh! Maybe I'll just go off and build me a Lego Sapiens or (...) (23 years ago, 7-Dec-01, to lugnet.build, lugnet.general)
| | | Re: Magnetic Levitator
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| Chris, I remember when we were at the Lugola meeting and you said you were gonna make this device and incorporate Lego into it, and now walllllllaaaaa! More below.... (...) Elegant! (...) Right on! (...) hee hee Hey that's interesting 'cause I'm (...) (23 years ago, 7-Dec-01, to lugnet.build, lugnet.general)
| | | Re: Magnetic Levitator
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| (...) Very cool! I was wondering, if you photographed the object using a flash, wouldn't the object drop a fraction of a second after that ? Also, I understand that the light shines from the right side, and enters a photodiode on the left side (or (...) (23 years ago, 8-Dec-01, to lugnet.build, lugnet.general)
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