This faceted ball levitates thanks to magnetic levitation technology

A creative engineer has managed to levitate a disco ball using magnetic levitation technology. This technical feat combines nostalgia for the disco years with scientific innovation, offering a fascinating spectacle that pushes the boundaries of physics. Discover how this fusion of retro entertainment and cutting-edge technology could transform our party spaces.

Magnetic levitation: a technology with multiple applications

The magnetic levitation is a concept that can be applied to almost any engineering mechanism. This technology, which allows objects to float without any physical support, has long fascinated scientists and engineers.
Recently, we’ve seen this technology applied to unexpected objects, such as Goku flying on his Magic Cloud. But today, it’s a disco ball, emblematic of the discotheques of the 70s and 80s, that benefits from this innovation, becoming the queen of the scientific and technological party.

The disco ball: a journey through time

In the late ’70s and throughout the ’80s, a ball covered with light-reflecting mirrors was a fixture in all night-time party establishments, known as discotheques. These balls were usually suspended by a cable, which sometimes also served as the power supply for the lights or rotation.
In France, these disco balls left their mark on an entire generation, lighting up the Parisian nights of the legendary Le Palace nightclub, or the evenings of Studio 54 in Cannes. They became a true symbol of the disco era, instantly evoking the festive, carefree atmosphere of that era.

An unexpected encounter between nostalgia and innovation

But as the Internet is full of surprises, we came across a video of an engineering genius who has recreated this same disco ball, but this time suspended in the air thanks to the magnetic levitation.
What’s even more interesting is that this ingenious creator has produced a YouTube video explaining how anyone can reproduce this mechanism at home. This democratization of technology opens up fascinating prospects for DIY enthusiasts and physics buffs alike.

The secrets behind the levitating disco ball

The author of this technological marvel, W. Wayt Gibbs, describes in an article for Spectrum how he managed to levitate a faceted ball using magnetic levitation.
“I found a 6-watt electromagnet in an online store for US$15, and a set of 10 button-shaped neodymium magnets cost $10,” he explains. “I thought we’d simply suspend the electromagnet from a beam, stick one of the rare-earth magnets to the toy’s center of gravity, then manually adjust the current flowing through the electromagnet coil until the levitating attraction between the magnets exactly balanced the force of gravity.”
The process turned out to be more complex than expected. Gibbs and his team opted for a design using Hall-effect sensors mounted at the top and bottom of the electromagnet coil to measure the proximity of the permanent magnet. The electromagnet is powered by a pulse-width modulated current.

Detailed operation of the levitation system

The system operates by means of a sophisticated mechanism:

• An operational amplifier chip subtracts the output of the two transducers to obtain a voltage measuring the field strength coming from the permanent magnet floating under the coil.
• A second operational amplifier compares this signal with a reference voltage that defines the distance at which the magnet should float.
• Any difference between the signal and the reference voltage is sent as an error signal to a KA7500C pulse-width modulator.
• This modulator adjusts the output power to the coil to around 10 kilohertz to counteract the error.

Implementation challenges

Despite the complexity of the system, implementation was not without its challenges. “Once the system was built, we set up our table,” says Gibbs. “The coil was too weak to suspend anything other than the magnet itself (so it wasn’t a Star Trek spaceship), but it worked, almost.”
The main challenge lay in the system’s stability. “If I kept a finger gently touching the side of the permanent magnet, it would float for a minute each time. But without this stabilizing touch, small movements quickly turned into large ones and caused the magnet to come loose,” explains the engineer.

Future prospects for this technology

Although Gibbs’ project is still in the experimental stage, it opens the way to many potential applications. One could imagine art installations using this technology to create floating sculptures, or innovative lighting systems for nightclubs and concert halls.
In France, where the electronic music scene is particularly dynamic, this technology could find a favorable echo. Festivals such as Nuits Sonores in Lyon or Astropolis in Brest could be interested in integrating such devices into their scenography.

Potential impact on the entertainment industry

The fusion of cutting-edge technology and retro nostalgia embodied by this levitating disco ball could well revolutionize the entertainment industry. It offers new possibilities for creating immersive and surprising experiences in party spaces.
What’s more, this innovation could stimulate public interest in physics and engineering. By making these scientific concepts accessible and playful, it could inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
As we continue to explore the possibilities offered by magnetic levitation, it’s clear that this technology has the potential to transform not only our entertainment spaces, but also our understanding of everyday physics. W. Wayt Gibbs’ levitating disco ball may just be the beginning of a new era where science and entertainment come together to create truly magical experiences.
In a world where technological innovation never ceases to amaze, this fusion of retro and futuristic reminds us that creativity knows no bounds. Who knows what other everyday objects might soon float away thanks to the magic of magnetic levitation?