Laser Motion Control of Levitating Graphite | Magnetic Games

With this experiment I want to prove that it is possible to convert light energy into kinetic energy without the need for solar panels and electric motors. The objective is to move a piece of pyrolytic graphite in levitation using a beam of light. It seems the tractor beam of the science fiction movie :-) Here is a list of materials used: Laser Safety Glasses: Mini Engraving Machine: Strong Block Cuboid Magnet Rare 5mm: Neodymium Magnets Cubes 3mm: Pyrolytyc Graphite : Graphite The pyrolytic graphite is the material that has the most intense diamagnetic properties. Thanks to diamagnetism graphite can levitate on North-South chessboard grid of neodymium magnets. Graphite is an excellent conductor of heat, so if hit by a laser beam immediately warms changing the diamagnetic response at that point, this causes the movement.
Back to Top