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Kent Fukuzura, Making Science Simple

If there's one thing we can't escape it's gravity--until, of course space travel becomes routine. While we're waiting for that day to arrive we have to deal with being pressed to the Earth. Or do we? In this experiment we'll take a few simple objects easily found around any home and create a set of anti-gravity boots.

With these boots you'll be able to counter the effects of gravity for short distances to the amazement and delight of your friends, peers, and parents.

Scientific Principles:
Before getting started let's look at how gravity works. It almost seems magical, but every object creates its own gravity. Here size does matter! The bigger the object the bigger its gravitational pull. That's why we're all still stuck here on Earth. It's so much bigger than us (or most of us) that we're trapped in its gravity well.

How can we circumvent the force of gravity? The answer is in the magic of super-conductivity and relativity.

Stuff you'll need:
You'll need to borrow dad's old superconducter from his days as a nuclear physicist, the solenoid from the car, an old pair of tennis shoes, a power source and a few other odds and ends from the kitchen.

Break the superconducter apart and examine the materials used. Upgrade any cesium or plutonium to a superconducting ceramic, such as Yttrium-barium with a barium-copper oxide twist, and recoil into two rings, each slightly larger than the soles of the tennis shoes.

Using dad's table saw cut the solenoid into six even pieces. Don't forget to wear safety goggles! Now, construct a housing for the super-conducting rings--one for each foot. Cookie tins are ideal, especially if there are a few cookies left inside. Eat the cookies and place three solenoid bits evenly around the edge of each tin and place the ring inside. Make sure it can rotate freely.

Attach the solenoids to a power source--you'll probably need at least four AA batteries for this experiment--and the rings should levitate magnetically.

To keep the materials cool cover the assemblies with cooking oil. Attach the devices to the bottom of the tennis shoes leaving the tops of the tins exposed so you can keep an eye on materials inside.

We're ready for action!
Put on your new anti-gravity boots and start the superconducting rings spinning. Once they get up to around 5,000 rpm you'll find yourself feeling lighter by at least 20%! With enough experience and a little luck you may be able to make short hops around the house. Make sure all your body parts are directly above the rings, or you'll have the odd effect of having your arms being a normal weight while the rest of you can become lighter than air.

Anti-gravity boots make for a great trick at birthday parties and other functions. Have fun!

Kent's Archive of Science

DISCLAIMER:

Kent's column is intended for amusement purposes only. Never play around with superconductors unless you are a trained professional or have proper supervision.