Tech/Electrostatic Levitation

Electrostatic Levitation

Electrostatic levitation, also known as Coulomb levitation, is a fascinating method of suspending objects in mid-air using the principle of electrostatic repulsion. It provides a platform for numerous scientific studies and applications, including materials science, fundamental physics, and microgravity simulations.

The underlying principle of electrostatic levitation revolves around the simple physics concept that like charges repel each other. When two objects are charged with the same type of electrical charge—either positive or negative—they will exert a force on each other that pushes them apart. This force can counteract the force of gravity, leading to levitation.

To achieve this, the object intended for levitation is charged to a high voltage. Then, a similarly charged plate is placed beneath it. The like charges repel, and the object levitates above the plate, seemingly defying gravity. This method of levitation is particularly effective for small, lightweight objects, such as styrofoam or plastic pieces.

Further Reading

• ntrs.nasa.gov: The NASA MSFC Electrostatic Levitation (ESL) Laboratory – Summary of Capabilities, Recent Upgrades, and Future Work
• ntrs.nasa.gov: Electrostatic Levitation: A Tool to Support Materials Research in Microgravity
• ntrs.nasa.gov: MSFC’s Electrostatic Levitation
• ntrs.nasa.gov: Recent Upgrades to the MSFC Electrostatic Levitation (ESL) Laboratory in Support of MaterialsLab

See Also

• Tech/Quantum locking
• Tech/Electrodynamic Tethering
• YouTube: Electrostatic levitation
• YouTube: Stable Electrostatic levitation experiment