S.B.O.A.

SCHOOL AND JUNIOR COLLEGE

Anna Nagar Western Extension, Chennai - 600 101

PROJECT REPORT
2024– 2025

Name :

Standard :

Reg. No :

Title of the Project :

 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified to the Bonafide project work done by

………………………………………….. of Standard …………………….

in the ……………… laboratory of S.B.O.A. School and Junior

College, Chennai – 600 101 during the year 2024-2025.

Date: Teacher-in-Charge

Submitted for the ……………………………... Examination held in the

year 2024-2025 at S.B.O.A School and Junior College.

Chennai- 600 101 External examiner

Internal examiner
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my immense gratitude to my physics teacher

……………………. for guiding us to complete this project by

giving us proper ideas, teaching us and providing resources,

enabling us to do this project in the best possible manner.

I would also like to thank our lab teacher ……………………..….

for the guidance she granted for this project.

On a further note, I would like to thank the school management for

providing us with a wonderful opportunity to do this project.

Most of all, I would like to thank our parents who guided us with

proper ideas and helped us throughout the project and providing us

with the best materials as possible.

 CONTENT

1. Objective

2. Introduction

3. Magnetic Levitation of a pencil

3.1 Aim

3.2 Apparatus required

3.3 Formula

3.4 Theory

3.5 Procedure

3.6 Observation

3.7 Precautions

3.8 Sources of error

3.9 Result

3.10 Bibliography
1. Objective.

To study and understand about magnetic levitation and its

principle.

2. Introduction.

Magnets are materials that generate a magnetic field, a physical

phenomenon associated with the motion of electric charges.
The presence of this magnetic field allows magnets to exert
forces on other magnetic materials or currents, resulting in
attraction or repulsion. Here’s a deeper look at the scientific
principles behind magnetism, the types of magnets, their
properties, and applications.

2.1 Basic Properties of Magnets

 Magnetic Poles: Every magnet has two poles, usually referred

to as the north and south poles. Like poles repel each other
(north repels north, south repels south), while opposite poles
attract (north attracts south).
  Magnetic Field: The space around a magnet in which magnetic
forces can be felt is called the magnetic field. It is visualized
using magnetic field lines, which emerge from the north pole
and curve toward the south pole. They are imaginary field lines
and they never intersect. If they intersect at that point if tangent
is drawn, 2 directions will be shown which is not possible.

 Magnetic Force: The force that causes attraction or repulsion

between magnets or magnetic materials. This force is stronger
near the poles and weaker as you move farther away from the
magnet.

2.2 Types of Magnets

 Permanent Magnets: These are magnets that retain their

magnetic properties over time without requiring an external
power source. They are made from materials such as iron,
nickel, cobalt, and certain alloys. Common examples include
bar magnets, horseshoe magnets, and refrigerator magnets.

 Temporary Magnets: These materials behave like magnets

only when they are exposed to a magnetic field. Once the
external magnetic field is removed, they lose their magnetism.
An example is soft iron.
  Electromagnets: These are magnets created by passing an
electric current through a coil of wire, often wrapped around a
ferromagnetic core. The strength of the magnetic field can be
adjusted by controlling the current. Electromagnets are used in
devices like motors, transformers, and MRI machines.

2.3. Magnetic Materials

 Ferromagnetic Materials: These are strongly attracted to

magnets and can be magnetized (e.g., iron, cobalt, nickel). They
have a high magnetic permeability.
  Paramagnetic Materials: These materials are weakly attracted
by a magnetic field but cannot retain magnetization when the
external field is removed (e.g., Aluminum, Platinum).

 Diamagnetic Materials: These materials are weakly repelled

by a magnetic field and cannot be magnetized (e.g., copper,
gold, water).

2.4. Magnetic Domains

 In ferromagnetic materials, atoms or ions are arranged in

regions known as magnetic domains, where the magnetic
moments of individual atoms are aligned in the same direction.
A magnet is formed when these domains are aligned in the same
direction across the material.

 In an unmagnetized material, the domains are randomly

aligned, causing their magnetic effects to cancel out.
2.5 Magnetic Field Lines

 Magnetic field lines represent the direction of the magnetic

force in space. The lines emerge from the north pole and curve
around to the south pole.

 Inside a magnet, the magnetic field lines continue from the

south pole back to the north pole, forming a complete loop.

2.6 Uses of Magnets

Magnets are used in a wide range of applications in daily life

and industry:

 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): High-powered

magnets are used in MRI scanners to produce detailed images
of the inside of the body.

 Magnetic Levitation (Maglev Trains): Magnets are used in

maglev trains to levitate the train above the track, reducing
friction and allowing for faster speeds.
  Compass: A magnetized needle in a compass aligns with the
Earth’s magnetic field, providing directions.

2.7 Interesting Phenomena

 Magnetism and Electricity: There is a close relationship

between magnetism and electricity, as described by
electromagnetism.

 A moving electric charge creates a magnetic field, and a

changing magnetic field can induce an electric current
(electromagnetic induction).

 Curie Temperature: The temperature at which a

ferromagnetic material loses its magnetism and becomes
paramagnetic is called the Curie temperature. This is typically
a high temperature.
2.8 Magnetic Shielding

 In some applications, it is necessary to block or shield magnetic

fields. This can be done using materials like mu-metal, which
has a high magnetic permeability and can redirect magnetic
field lines.
 EXPERIMENT

3. Magnetic Levitation of Pencil

3.1 Aim

To observe how magnetic forces can be used to levitate a pencil

in mid-air, demonstrating the principle of magnetic repulsion
and attraction.

3.2 Apparatus required:

1. Pencil (preferably wooden)
2. Ring magnets
3. Styrofoam
4. Tape or glue
5. Non-metallic surface (flat table/surface to hold magnets)

3.3 Formula

Magnetic force between two magnets:

×
F= k [𝑁 ]
m1 and m2: - Magnetic force strength
r: distance between two poles
k: propotion constant

Magnetic levitation
⋅
Fmag =
B is the magnetic flux density(tesla)
A is the cross-sectional area of the pencil or magnet involved in the magnetic
field
𝜇 is the permeability of free space
3.4 Theory

The principle of magnetic levitation of a pencil is based on the

concept of magnetic forces and the ability of magnetic fields to
repel or attract certain materials, such as ferromagnetic objects
(e.g., iron, nickel, and cobalt). Magnetic levitation involves
suspending an object in the air without any physical support,
typically using magnetic fields to counteract gravity.

3.4.1 Magnetic Field Interaction.

A pencil made of a magnetic material (such as iron or steel) can

be influenced by a magnetic field. If placed within a strong
enough magnetic field, the pencil will experience a force that
either repels or attracts it, depending on the orientation and
polarity of the magnetic field.

3.4.2 Repulsive Force:

In some magnetic levitation setups, the pencil can levitate when

placed above a magnetic source that generates a repulsive force
(such as with the use of like poles facing each other). The
magnetic field created by the magnets repels the magnetic
material in the pencil, causing it to rise and float above source.

3.4.3 Stability and Control:

Achieving stable levitation is complex because of the tendency

of the pencil to move away from the optimal position in the
magnetic field. The back end of magnets provide repulsion to
gravitational field while the front half attracts the front part of
magnet on pencil attracts which provides stability to the system.
3.5 Procedure

1. Take a Styrofoam sheet (slightly bigger than the size of pencil).

2. Mark equidistant points from both the ends in Styrofoam sheet.

3. Take two small pieces of ring magnets and apply double sided tape.

4. Stick the pieces on the base sheet at the marked point.

5.Take one of ring magnet and insert at the bottom of pencil such that
it should repel the back magnets in the base.

6. Take other ring magnet and insert on the top of pencil such that it
attracts the front magnets in the base (The magnet should be slightly
back from the base magnets).

7. Take two ring magnets (attached together due to attractive force)

and place on front part of the base sheet (for attraction).

8. Take another pair of ring magnet and place nearby such that it
repels the base pair of magnets (against gravity).

9. Place half of the popsicle at the front.

10. Balance the pencil and try to rotate it freely.

3.6 Observation

By assembling the given materials, we have witnessed the

magnetic levitation by pencil. When the pencil is rotated, it
rotates for a long time as there is minimal friction (provided no
external disturbances provided to the system).

3.7 Precautions

1. The ring magnets should be strong enough for levitating the

mass of the pencil against gravity.
2. The system should be placed in a flat and stable surface.
3. The apparatus should be handled with care.

3.8 Sources of Error

1. The magnets may not be aligned properly.

2. The system may not be placed at a flat and stable surface.
3. The magnets may not be strong enough to levitate the
magnets.

3.9 RESULT.

We have successfully experimented and observed the magnetic

levitation of a pencil and its principles.
3.10 Bibliography.

1.Wikipedia

2. NCERT Textbook