Static levitation of nonmetallic objects

My project is an experimental project, I will experiment with static electricity to try and levitate a statically charged nonmetal object.
Eyasu Mulumar
Grade 8

Presentation

No video provided

Hypothesis

If electrostatic levitation is a viable method of levitation, then the electrostatic levitation using a metal bowl is more stable than any other type of electrostatic levitation, because it would apply force to the object to be levitated, on all sides and due to that it would keep the levitated object stable.

Research

The theory is based on the fact that by charging 2 objects the same charge then they will repel each other. The idea is that if one of those objects is bowl-like in shape and then the second object is just a normal object, then if it is placed in the bowl it will start to levitate. To create the static charge I will be making use of the triboelectric effect and make a slight imitation of Otto von Guericke’s static generator. The triboelectric effect is an effect that says that when two objects rub together one will gain electrons and others will lose electrons. You can predict which objects gain and lose electrons by using the triboelectric series. The triboelectric series is a list of what objects like to gain electrons and what objects like to lose them. On the triboelectric series normally the objects near the top like to lose electrons and the ones on the bottom like to gain electrons, or the other way around.

So back on topic to generate the static electricity I will use an object low down or negative on the triboelectric series and an object high up on the triboelectric series. Then I will spin the object negative on the triboelectric series so that it is constantly rubbing on the object positive on the triboelectric series which will cause it to gain electrons and become negative. Then I will place a metal comb that will pick up the charges from the negative object and transfer them to a metal ball which will store the charges. The positive object will be grounded so that it can continuously have electrons to give to the object down low down in the triboelectric series. 

Anyways to statically charge the object that will be levitated I will hold it up to the statically charged metal ball to give it some negative charges. To statically charge the other object I will do the same thing. 

Earnshaw's theorem is a very important theorem that affects all electromagnetism. This theorem is so important because it shows us that it is impossible to hold anything in stable equilibrium with just static charges. This is important because it affects ion traps which are designed to trap ions with static charges, magnetic fields, etc. 

My project does not go against Earnshaw's theorem because of many reasons. One such reason is that the object that will be levitated will not stay still so it will not be in a stable equilibrium because of the static charges. 

To calculate the amount of static charge needed to push an object with an acceleration of 9.8m/s which is the gravitational force of the earth which must be overcome to levitate an object, and the amount of force needed to accelerate the object is going to be different depending on the mass of the object. For the experiment to calculate the amount of force that will be required to lift a 10-gram object I will use the equation of force f = ma, to calculate the amount of force needed to move the object with an acceleration of 9.81 meters per second squared to counteract the force of gravity, and for a 10-gram object which is 0.001 kilograms, so to calculate it you must multiply 0.001 kilograms times 9.81 meters per second equals 0.00981 newtons of force is needed to levitate a 10 gram object stably and extra force is needed to counter act any movement left or right.

Variables

Manipulated variables:

The method of static levitation and the experiment done(he maximum weight lifted, the distance from the previous location after 3 seconds, and the maximum height from the ground.)

Responding variables:

 the maximum weight lifted, the distance from the previous location after 3 seconds, and the maximum height from the ground.

controlled variables:

The humidity, The temperature, air currents(wind),

Unknown variables:

  • humidity
  • sunlight/light levels
  • type of paper used(lined/clear)

Procedure

 

method 1: 

The individual will charge the necessary weight of paper for 2 minutes(120 seconds), then the individual will place the charged object 2.5 centimetres over the metal bowl. Then, the individual will electrostatically charge a metal bowl with the Van de Graff generator(the fun fly stick) continuously.

 

Method 2:

The individual will charge the necessary weight of paper for 2 minutes(120 seconds), then the individual will place the charged object 2.5 centimetres over the metal bowl. Then, the individual will electrostatically charge a metal plate with the Van de Graff generator(the fun fly stick) continuously.

Figuring out the maximum weight:

The individual will have first to use the method of electrostatic levitation and start levitating 0.1 grams if it can then be levitated for 3 seconds then the individual should increase the weight by 0.05 grams and do the process again and again until the weight can no longer be supported then once it has reached that point the maximum weight that can be lifted it 0.05 grams below the weight that could not be supported. If at the start the weight can not be supported then the individual should half the weight and if it can't be levitated still then halve the weight again and again.

Observations

Data Tables:

                       

Methods 

Weight maximum

(g)

Observations

Weight maximum

(g)

Observations

Weight maximum

(g)

Observations

Method 1

  

Too small to accurately scale the measure.


 

The paper always fell and the charge always dissipated too quickly so it was always attracted to the metal bowl.

Too small to accurately scale the measure.

The paper always fell and the charge always dissipated too quickly so it was always attracted to the metal bowl.

Too small to accurately scale the measure.

The paper always fell and the charge always dissipated too quickly so it was always attracted to the metal bowl.

Method 2

Too small to accurately scale the measure.


 

The paper always fell and the charge always dissipated too quickly so it was always attracted to the metal plate but for a brief moment floated.

Too small to accurately scale the measure.

The paper always fell and the charge always dissipated too quickly so it was always attracted to the metal plate but for a brief moment floated.

Too small to accurately scale the measure.

The paper always fell and the charge always dissipated too quickly so it was always attracted to the metal plate but for a brief moment floated.

 

According to the observations, it doesn't matter what type of electrostatic levitation is used because electrostatic levitation is too weak to lift anything for nearly any useful thing, and the electrostatic charge always dissipates too fast to levitate anything, but sometimes for a short moment, it would levitate an object below 1 gram. 

 

Analysis

According to the observations from the experiment it can be inferred that electrostatic levitation can't levitate anything heavy enough to be useful. Since both methods of electrostatic levitation fared the same so it doesn't matter which method is used. This is known because every single experiment ended with a failure with the levitated material being too light to do anything useful or register on the scale. Electrostatic levitation is unreliable mostly because of two  issues, one such issue is that the electrostatic charge dissipates too quickly to be of any use, and the other issue is that the electrostatic charge is also too weak to do anything useful.

Conclusion

so in conclusion electrostatic levitation is very weak too weak to do anything of value, and in the analysis, it was seen that both methods of electrostatic levitation yielded the same results. So electrostatic levitation is unreliable because of multiple issues, one such issue is that the electrostatic charge dissipates too quickly to be of any use, and the other issue is that the electrostatic charge is also too weak to do anything useful.

Application

There are numerous applications of electrostatic levitation, such as moving objects for precise operations on material that require no contact with the object, so it is useful for materials science. It could also be usefull for experiments or testing materials that are very delicate. 

Sources Of Error

  • humidity
  • sunlight/light levels
  • type of paper used(lined/clear)
  • scale used

Citations

Part 1(the theory):

 

Part 2(how I will do it)

Extra: 

  • I used Grammarly and windows 11 spell check(built in)

Acknowledgement

I would like to express my gratitude to my parents for supplying me with the materials and supervising me, my sister for helping out with the experiments, and my teacher Miss Ruzycki.