Can the Meissner effect explain very large floating structures?












9












$begingroup$


James Cameron's Avatar featured floating mountains which stayed aloft due to the Meissner effect; they contained large quantities of the room-temperature superconductor unobtainium, which, due to their strong electromagnetic fields, were suspended above the ground.



Would this really work though? I've seen the concept criticized - see here - and I was wondering if you could help me overcome the flaws in the movie's floating islands; namely the fact that




  • A superconductor can't just give off a magnetic field without a current

  • The magnetic field would have to be so big, dense and strong that it could be uninhabitable for humans

  • I'd rather not just magic an RC superconductor onto the periodic table unless it theoretically could exist on my planet but not Earth


I would also like to know how such a huge magnetic field could be produced naturally. Some requirements:




  • The floating boulders I want have to be able to exist as large as houses

  • The planet must be habitable to non-extremophilic animal life

  • It is a planet, not a moon of a gas giant - so no help from Jupiter-like planets with metallic hydrogen outer cores










share|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The lazy solution is of course to remove the "natural" requirement. Someone could have built them because the awesomeness of floating mountains transcends species, or somesuch. The criticisms of superconducting islands are well founded, alas, so I don't think you'll have much luck working your way around them.
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    Apr 3 at 19:18






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Unless that whole chunk is magnetic, wouldn't the superconductor eventually break through the rock containing it (many tons of rock supported by only the tensile strength of the rock against the superconductor). It seems like over time everything would end up on the ground again, and the superconductor in space, or as a sheet around the planet.
    $endgroup$
    – Tyler S. Loeper
    Apr 3 at 20:35








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2
    $endgroup$
    – Liam Morris
    Apr 3 at 21:26










  • $begingroup$
    @StarfishPrime or, as in Avatar, because superconductors and flying mountains make for a great human bait...
    $endgroup$
    – Eth
    2 days ago
















9












$begingroup$


James Cameron's Avatar featured floating mountains which stayed aloft due to the Meissner effect; they contained large quantities of the room-temperature superconductor unobtainium, which, due to their strong electromagnetic fields, were suspended above the ground.



Would this really work though? I've seen the concept criticized - see here - and I was wondering if you could help me overcome the flaws in the movie's floating islands; namely the fact that




  • A superconductor can't just give off a magnetic field without a current

  • The magnetic field would have to be so big, dense and strong that it could be uninhabitable for humans

  • I'd rather not just magic an RC superconductor onto the periodic table unless it theoretically could exist on my planet but not Earth


I would also like to know how such a huge magnetic field could be produced naturally. Some requirements:




  • The floating boulders I want have to be able to exist as large as houses

  • The planet must be habitable to non-extremophilic animal life

  • It is a planet, not a moon of a gas giant - so no help from Jupiter-like planets with metallic hydrogen outer cores










share|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The lazy solution is of course to remove the "natural" requirement. Someone could have built them because the awesomeness of floating mountains transcends species, or somesuch. The criticisms of superconducting islands are well founded, alas, so I don't think you'll have much luck working your way around them.
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    Apr 3 at 19:18






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Unless that whole chunk is magnetic, wouldn't the superconductor eventually break through the rock containing it (many tons of rock supported by only the tensile strength of the rock against the superconductor). It seems like over time everything would end up on the ground again, and the superconductor in space, or as a sheet around the planet.
    $endgroup$
    – Tyler S. Loeper
    Apr 3 at 20:35








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2
    $endgroup$
    – Liam Morris
    Apr 3 at 21:26










  • $begingroup$
    @StarfishPrime or, as in Avatar, because superconductors and flying mountains make for a great human bait...
    $endgroup$
    – Eth
    2 days ago














9












9








9


1



$begingroup$


James Cameron's Avatar featured floating mountains which stayed aloft due to the Meissner effect; they contained large quantities of the room-temperature superconductor unobtainium, which, due to their strong electromagnetic fields, were suspended above the ground.



Would this really work though? I've seen the concept criticized - see here - and I was wondering if you could help me overcome the flaws in the movie's floating islands; namely the fact that




  • A superconductor can't just give off a magnetic field without a current

  • The magnetic field would have to be so big, dense and strong that it could be uninhabitable for humans

  • I'd rather not just magic an RC superconductor onto the periodic table unless it theoretically could exist on my planet but not Earth


I would also like to know how such a huge magnetic field could be produced naturally. Some requirements:




  • The floating boulders I want have to be able to exist as large as houses

  • The planet must be habitable to non-extremophilic animal life

  • It is a planet, not a moon of a gas giant - so no help from Jupiter-like planets with metallic hydrogen outer cores










share|improve this question









$endgroup$




James Cameron's Avatar featured floating mountains which stayed aloft due to the Meissner effect; they contained large quantities of the room-temperature superconductor unobtainium, which, due to their strong electromagnetic fields, were suspended above the ground.



Would this really work though? I've seen the concept criticized - see here - and I was wondering if you could help me overcome the flaws in the movie's floating islands; namely the fact that




  • A superconductor can't just give off a magnetic field without a current

  • The magnetic field would have to be so big, dense and strong that it could be uninhabitable for humans

  • I'd rather not just magic an RC superconductor onto the periodic table unless it theoretically could exist on my planet but not Earth


I would also like to know how such a huge magnetic field could be produced naturally. Some requirements:




  • The floating boulders I want have to be able to exist as large as houses

  • The planet must be habitable to non-extremophilic animal life

  • It is a planet, not a moon of a gas giant - so no help from Jupiter-like planets with metallic hydrogen outer cores







science-based chemistry magnetism electromagnetism






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Apr 3 at 19:02









SealBoiSealBoi

6,82312467




6,82312467








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The lazy solution is of course to remove the "natural" requirement. Someone could have built them because the awesomeness of floating mountains transcends species, or somesuch. The criticisms of superconducting islands are well founded, alas, so I don't think you'll have much luck working your way around them.
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    Apr 3 at 19:18






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Unless that whole chunk is magnetic, wouldn't the superconductor eventually break through the rock containing it (many tons of rock supported by only the tensile strength of the rock against the superconductor). It seems like over time everything would end up on the ground again, and the superconductor in space, or as a sheet around the planet.
    $endgroup$
    – Tyler S. Loeper
    Apr 3 at 20:35








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2
    $endgroup$
    – Liam Morris
    Apr 3 at 21:26










  • $begingroup$
    @StarfishPrime or, as in Avatar, because superconductors and flying mountains make for a great human bait...
    $endgroup$
    – Eth
    2 days ago














  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The lazy solution is of course to remove the "natural" requirement. Someone could have built them because the awesomeness of floating mountains transcends species, or somesuch. The criticisms of superconducting islands are well founded, alas, so I don't think you'll have much luck working your way around them.
    $endgroup$
    – Starfish Prime
    Apr 3 at 19:18






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Unless that whole chunk is magnetic, wouldn't the superconductor eventually break through the rock containing it (many tons of rock supported by only the tensile strength of the rock against the superconductor). It seems like over time everything would end up on the ground again, and the superconductor in space, or as a sheet around the planet.
    $endgroup$
    – Tyler S. Loeper
    Apr 3 at 20:35








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Possible duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2
    $endgroup$
    – Liam Morris
    Apr 3 at 21:26










  • $begingroup$
    @StarfishPrime or, as in Avatar, because superconductors and flying mountains make for a great human bait...
    $endgroup$
    – Eth
    2 days ago








3




3




$begingroup$
The lazy solution is of course to remove the "natural" requirement. Someone could have built them because the awesomeness of floating mountains transcends species, or somesuch. The criticisms of superconducting islands are well founded, alas, so I don't think you'll have much luck working your way around them.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Apr 3 at 19:18




$begingroup$
The lazy solution is of course to remove the "natural" requirement. Someone could have built them because the awesomeness of floating mountains transcends species, or somesuch. The criticisms of superconducting islands are well founded, alas, so I don't think you'll have much luck working your way around them.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
Apr 3 at 19:18




1




1




$begingroup$
Unless that whole chunk is magnetic, wouldn't the superconductor eventually break through the rock containing it (many tons of rock supported by only the tensile strength of the rock against the superconductor). It seems like over time everything would end up on the ground again, and the superconductor in space, or as a sheet around the planet.
$endgroup$
– Tyler S. Loeper
Apr 3 at 20:35






$begingroup$
Unless that whole chunk is magnetic, wouldn't the superconductor eventually break through the rock containing it (many tons of rock supported by only the tensile strength of the rock against the superconductor). It seems like over time everything would end up on the ground again, and the superconductor in space, or as a sheet around the planet.
$endgroup$
– Tyler S. Loeper
Apr 3 at 20:35






2




2




$begingroup$
Possible duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 3 at 21:26




$begingroup$
Possible duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 3 at 21:26












$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime or, as in Avatar, because superconductors and flying mountains make for a great human bait...
$endgroup$
– Eth
2 days ago




$begingroup$
@StarfishPrime or, as in Avatar, because superconductors and flying mountains make for a great human bait...
$endgroup$
– Eth
2 days ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















9












$begingroup$


  1. Only those pieces of rock which contain a current can produce a magnetic field adequate to float in the planetary magnetic field.


  2. Rocks will float at different distances from the surface depending on the strength of their internal current. Some might not float, but just be lighter than would be the case without the current. Some will be very high.


  3. Some rocks obtain their initial current through lightning.


  4. Rocks can maintain their current through induction. A conductor moving (falling or rising) thru a magnetic field will have a current induced within it. This induced current will produce a magnetic field opposing the one that produced it.


  5. I conclude from videos of small animals being levitated that a magnetic field adequate to oppose gravity is not itself lethal.





ADDENDUM: Maybe Pandora floating rocks are very light?



I recently had opportunity to see the simulated world of Pandora in Orlando. They have some cool "floating" rocks.



floating rocks in the Disney pandora



I conclude that the "rocks" are a lot lighter than they look. Pumice is a tenth the mass of the same volume of limestone. Mayne the levitating rocks are light too.



A do not think there is an upper limit to magnetic fields. Magnetars have a lot. Questions about how much magnetic field can a given volume of mass host, or how much can a given magnetic field (or interacting magnetic fields) lift can be answered. One would need to understand magnetic flux density and I do not.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$









  • 2




    $begingroup$
    But is a magnetic field adequate to levitate, say, 20k metric tons lethal?
    $endgroup$
    – Frostfyre
    Apr 3 at 19:52






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Pandora orbited the gas giant Polyphemus. If Pandora orbited at the edge of the Ionosphere of the planet, then there is a chance highly charged particles would bombard Pandora, with a very powerful magnetic field and the fact its warped and twisted by the veins of unobtainium criss crossing the world, it could produce a charge in conductive material on Pandora. That would assume that there is naturally occurring metallic materials in very large quantities. There is a high chance that the world would be bathed in lethal levels of radiation
    $endgroup$
    – Sonvar
    2 days ago





















4












$begingroup$

The magnetic force is much stronger than the gravitational force. Even a small magnet will easily hold a metal object a few times its mass.



Here is a video of common household objects being levitated:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gMMM62NC-4



On top of that the gravity on Pandora might be lower than that on Earth, and the rock less dense.



You can imagine layers of magnetic unobtanium separated by layers of ordinary rock. When the rock erodes, the like charged layers on unobtanium repel each other, thus resulting in floating rocks.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    3












    $begingroup$

    Avatar was a fun movie to watch, but a lot of it was fantasy



    Can you float a superconductor without an external current? Sure you can. What you need is a strong enough magnetic field to induce the necessary current in the superconductor. for example, in that Youtube video, a neodymium magnet floats atop a super cold superconductor.



    The problem you have is that planetary magnetospheres are insanely weak. The magnets holding your child's drawings on your fridge are 200X stronger than Earth's magnetosphere and you can't float a superconductor with a fridge magnet.



    Does this stop you?



    Not necessarily. You simply need to justify a strong enough magnetosphere that it would magnetize the fillings in a visitor's teeth.



    Or do what Cameron did: ignore the details and tell a good story.



    But, according to your question you don't want a magnetosphere of that strength. That leaves one answer: sorry, it can't be done based on the science we know today.



    BTW, for fascinating insight into the idea of lethal magnetism, check out this post from our sister site, Physics.SE.



    And then my memory kicked in



    After answering this question, I realized it's a duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2. But since I've already answered this question, I'm not going to VTC.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$














      Your Answer





      StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
      return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
      StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
      StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
      });
      });
      }, "mathjax-editing");

      StackExchange.ready(function() {
      var channelOptions = {
      tags: "".split(" "),
      id: "579"
      };
      initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

      StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
      // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
      if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
      StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
      createEditor();
      });
      }
      else {
      createEditor();
      }
      });

      function createEditor() {
      StackExchange.prepareEditor({
      heartbeatType: 'answer',
      autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
      convertImagesToLinks: false,
      noModals: true,
      showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
      reputationToPostImages: null,
      bindNavPrevention: true,
      postfix: "",
      imageUploader: {
      brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
      contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
      allowUrls: true
      },
      noCode: true, onDemand: true,
      discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
      ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
      });


      }
      });














      draft saved

      draft discarded


















      StackExchange.ready(
      function () {
      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f143152%2fcan-the-meissner-effect-explain-very-large-floating-structures%23new-answer', 'question_page');
      }
      );

      Post as a guest















      Required, but never shown

























      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      9












      $begingroup$


      1. Only those pieces of rock which contain a current can produce a magnetic field adequate to float in the planetary magnetic field.


      2. Rocks will float at different distances from the surface depending on the strength of their internal current. Some might not float, but just be lighter than would be the case without the current. Some will be very high.


      3. Some rocks obtain their initial current through lightning.


      4. Rocks can maintain their current through induction. A conductor moving (falling or rising) thru a magnetic field will have a current induced within it. This induced current will produce a magnetic field opposing the one that produced it.


      5. I conclude from videos of small animals being levitated that a magnetic field adequate to oppose gravity is not itself lethal.





      ADDENDUM: Maybe Pandora floating rocks are very light?



      I recently had opportunity to see the simulated world of Pandora in Orlando. They have some cool "floating" rocks.



      floating rocks in the Disney pandora



      I conclude that the "rocks" are a lot lighter than they look. Pumice is a tenth the mass of the same volume of limestone. Mayne the levitating rocks are light too.



      A do not think there is an upper limit to magnetic fields. Magnetars have a lot. Questions about how much magnetic field can a given volume of mass host, or how much can a given magnetic field (or interacting magnetic fields) lift can be answered. One would need to understand magnetic flux density and I do not.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$









      • 2




        $begingroup$
        But is a magnetic field adequate to levitate, say, 20k metric tons lethal?
        $endgroup$
        – Frostfyre
        Apr 3 at 19:52






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Pandora orbited the gas giant Polyphemus. If Pandora orbited at the edge of the Ionosphere of the planet, then there is a chance highly charged particles would bombard Pandora, with a very powerful magnetic field and the fact its warped and twisted by the veins of unobtainium criss crossing the world, it could produce a charge in conductive material on Pandora. That would assume that there is naturally occurring metallic materials in very large quantities. There is a high chance that the world would be bathed in lethal levels of radiation
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        2 days ago


















      9












      $begingroup$


      1. Only those pieces of rock which contain a current can produce a magnetic field adequate to float in the planetary magnetic field.


      2. Rocks will float at different distances from the surface depending on the strength of their internal current. Some might not float, but just be lighter than would be the case without the current. Some will be very high.


      3. Some rocks obtain their initial current through lightning.


      4. Rocks can maintain their current through induction. A conductor moving (falling or rising) thru a magnetic field will have a current induced within it. This induced current will produce a magnetic field opposing the one that produced it.


      5. I conclude from videos of small animals being levitated that a magnetic field adequate to oppose gravity is not itself lethal.





      ADDENDUM: Maybe Pandora floating rocks are very light?



      I recently had opportunity to see the simulated world of Pandora in Orlando. They have some cool "floating" rocks.



      floating rocks in the Disney pandora



      I conclude that the "rocks" are a lot lighter than they look. Pumice is a tenth the mass of the same volume of limestone. Mayne the levitating rocks are light too.



      A do not think there is an upper limit to magnetic fields. Magnetars have a lot. Questions about how much magnetic field can a given volume of mass host, or how much can a given magnetic field (or interacting magnetic fields) lift can be answered. One would need to understand magnetic flux density and I do not.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$









      • 2




        $begingroup$
        But is a magnetic field adequate to levitate, say, 20k metric tons lethal?
        $endgroup$
        – Frostfyre
        Apr 3 at 19:52






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Pandora orbited the gas giant Polyphemus. If Pandora orbited at the edge of the Ionosphere of the planet, then there is a chance highly charged particles would bombard Pandora, with a very powerful magnetic field and the fact its warped and twisted by the veins of unobtainium criss crossing the world, it could produce a charge in conductive material on Pandora. That would assume that there is naturally occurring metallic materials in very large quantities. There is a high chance that the world would be bathed in lethal levels of radiation
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        2 days ago
















      9












      9








      9





      $begingroup$


      1. Only those pieces of rock which contain a current can produce a magnetic field adequate to float in the planetary magnetic field.


      2. Rocks will float at different distances from the surface depending on the strength of their internal current. Some might not float, but just be lighter than would be the case without the current. Some will be very high.


      3. Some rocks obtain their initial current through lightning.


      4. Rocks can maintain their current through induction. A conductor moving (falling or rising) thru a magnetic field will have a current induced within it. This induced current will produce a magnetic field opposing the one that produced it.


      5. I conclude from videos of small animals being levitated that a magnetic field adequate to oppose gravity is not itself lethal.





      ADDENDUM: Maybe Pandora floating rocks are very light?



      I recently had opportunity to see the simulated world of Pandora in Orlando. They have some cool "floating" rocks.



      floating rocks in the Disney pandora



      I conclude that the "rocks" are a lot lighter than they look. Pumice is a tenth the mass of the same volume of limestone. Mayne the levitating rocks are light too.



      A do not think there is an upper limit to magnetic fields. Magnetars have a lot. Questions about how much magnetic field can a given volume of mass host, or how much can a given magnetic field (or interacting magnetic fields) lift can be answered. One would need to understand magnetic flux density and I do not.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$




      1. Only those pieces of rock which contain a current can produce a magnetic field adequate to float in the planetary magnetic field.


      2. Rocks will float at different distances from the surface depending on the strength of their internal current. Some might not float, but just be lighter than would be the case without the current. Some will be very high.


      3. Some rocks obtain their initial current through lightning.


      4. Rocks can maintain their current through induction. A conductor moving (falling or rising) thru a magnetic field will have a current induced within it. This induced current will produce a magnetic field opposing the one that produced it.


      5. I conclude from videos of small animals being levitated that a magnetic field adequate to oppose gravity is not itself lethal.





      ADDENDUM: Maybe Pandora floating rocks are very light?



      I recently had opportunity to see the simulated world of Pandora in Orlando. They have some cool "floating" rocks.



      floating rocks in the Disney pandora



      I conclude that the "rocks" are a lot lighter than they look. Pumice is a tenth the mass of the same volume of limestone. Mayne the levitating rocks are light too.



      A do not think there is an upper limit to magnetic fields. Magnetars have a lot. Questions about how much magnetic field can a given volume of mass host, or how much can a given magnetic field (or interacting magnetic fields) lift can be answered. One would need to understand magnetic flux density and I do not.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Apr 3 at 20:54

























      answered Apr 3 at 19:29









      WillkWillk

      116k27219487




      116k27219487








      • 2




        $begingroup$
        But is a magnetic field adequate to levitate, say, 20k metric tons lethal?
        $endgroup$
        – Frostfyre
        Apr 3 at 19:52






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Pandora orbited the gas giant Polyphemus. If Pandora orbited at the edge of the Ionosphere of the planet, then there is a chance highly charged particles would bombard Pandora, with a very powerful magnetic field and the fact its warped and twisted by the veins of unobtainium criss crossing the world, it could produce a charge in conductive material on Pandora. That would assume that there is naturally occurring metallic materials in very large quantities. There is a high chance that the world would be bathed in lethal levels of radiation
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        2 days ago
















      • 2




        $begingroup$
        But is a magnetic field adequate to levitate, say, 20k metric tons lethal?
        $endgroup$
        – Frostfyre
        Apr 3 at 19:52






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Pandora orbited the gas giant Polyphemus. If Pandora orbited at the edge of the Ionosphere of the planet, then there is a chance highly charged particles would bombard Pandora, with a very powerful magnetic field and the fact its warped and twisted by the veins of unobtainium criss crossing the world, it could produce a charge in conductive material on Pandora. That would assume that there is naturally occurring metallic materials in very large quantities. There is a high chance that the world would be bathed in lethal levels of radiation
        $endgroup$
        – Sonvar
        2 days ago










      2




      2




      $begingroup$
      But is a magnetic field adequate to levitate, say, 20k metric tons lethal?
      $endgroup$
      – Frostfyre
      Apr 3 at 19:52




      $begingroup$
      But is a magnetic field adequate to levitate, say, 20k metric tons lethal?
      $endgroup$
      – Frostfyre
      Apr 3 at 19:52




      1




      1




      $begingroup$
      Pandora orbited the gas giant Polyphemus. If Pandora orbited at the edge of the Ionosphere of the planet, then there is a chance highly charged particles would bombard Pandora, with a very powerful magnetic field and the fact its warped and twisted by the veins of unobtainium criss crossing the world, it could produce a charge in conductive material on Pandora. That would assume that there is naturally occurring metallic materials in very large quantities. There is a high chance that the world would be bathed in lethal levels of radiation
      $endgroup$
      – Sonvar
      2 days ago






      $begingroup$
      Pandora orbited the gas giant Polyphemus. If Pandora orbited at the edge of the Ionosphere of the planet, then there is a chance highly charged particles would bombard Pandora, with a very powerful magnetic field and the fact its warped and twisted by the veins of unobtainium criss crossing the world, it could produce a charge in conductive material on Pandora. That would assume that there is naturally occurring metallic materials in very large quantities. There is a high chance that the world would be bathed in lethal levels of radiation
      $endgroup$
      – Sonvar
      2 days ago













      4












      $begingroup$

      The magnetic force is much stronger than the gravitational force. Even a small magnet will easily hold a metal object a few times its mass.



      Here is a video of common household objects being levitated:



      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gMMM62NC-4



      On top of that the gravity on Pandora might be lower than that on Earth, and the rock less dense.



      You can imagine layers of magnetic unobtanium separated by layers of ordinary rock. When the rock erodes, the like charged layers on unobtanium repel each other, thus resulting in floating rocks.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$


















        4












        $begingroup$

        The magnetic force is much stronger than the gravitational force. Even a small magnet will easily hold a metal object a few times its mass.



        Here is a video of common household objects being levitated:



        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gMMM62NC-4



        On top of that the gravity on Pandora might be lower than that on Earth, and the rock less dense.



        You can imagine layers of magnetic unobtanium separated by layers of ordinary rock. When the rock erodes, the like charged layers on unobtanium repel each other, thus resulting in floating rocks.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$
















          4












          4








          4





          $begingroup$

          The magnetic force is much stronger than the gravitational force. Even a small magnet will easily hold a metal object a few times its mass.



          Here is a video of common household objects being levitated:



          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gMMM62NC-4



          On top of that the gravity on Pandora might be lower than that on Earth, and the rock less dense.



          You can imagine layers of magnetic unobtanium separated by layers of ordinary rock. When the rock erodes, the like charged layers on unobtanium repel each other, thus resulting in floating rocks.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          The magnetic force is much stronger than the gravitational force. Even a small magnet will easily hold a metal object a few times its mass.



          Here is a video of common household objects being levitated:



          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gMMM62NC-4



          On top of that the gravity on Pandora might be lower than that on Earth, and the rock less dense.



          You can imagine layers of magnetic unobtanium separated by layers of ordinary rock. When the rock erodes, the like charged layers on unobtanium repel each other, thus resulting in floating rocks.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Apr 3 at 21:10









          ventsyvventsyv

          3,457418




          3,457418























              3












              $begingroup$

              Avatar was a fun movie to watch, but a lot of it was fantasy



              Can you float a superconductor without an external current? Sure you can. What you need is a strong enough magnetic field to induce the necessary current in the superconductor. for example, in that Youtube video, a neodymium magnet floats atop a super cold superconductor.



              The problem you have is that planetary magnetospheres are insanely weak. The magnets holding your child's drawings on your fridge are 200X stronger than Earth's magnetosphere and you can't float a superconductor with a fridge magnet.



              Does this stop you?



              Not necessarily. You simply need to justify a strong enough magnetosphere that it would magnetize the fillings in a visitor's teeth.



              Or do what Cameron did: ignore the details and tell a good story.



              But, according to your question you don't want a magnetosphere of that strength. That leaves one answer: sorry, it can't be done based on the science we know today.



              BTW, for fascinating insight into the idea of lethal magnetism, check out this post from our sister site, Physics.SE.



              And then my memory kicked in



              After answering this question, I realized it's a duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2. But since I've already answered this question, I'm not going to VTC.






              share|improve this answer











              $endgroup$


















                3












                $begingroup$

                Avatar was a fun movie to watch, but a lot of it was fantasy



                Can you float a superconductor without an external current? Sure you can. What you need is a strong enough magnetic field to induce the necessary current in the superconductor. for example, in that Youtube video, a neodymium magnet floats atop a super cold superconductor.



                The problem you have is that planetary magnetospheres are insanely weak. The magnets holding your child's drawings on your fridge are 200X stronger than Earth's magnetosphere and you can't float a superconductor with a fridge magnet.



                Does this stop you?



                Not necessarily. You simply need to justify a strong enough magnetosphere that it would magnetize the fillings in a visitor's teeth.



                Or do what Cameron did: ignore the details and tell a good story.



                But, according to your question you don't want a magnetosphere of that strength. That leaves one answer: sorry, it can't be done based on the science we know today.



                BTW, for fascinating insight into the idea of lethal magnetism, check out this post from our sister site, Physics.SE.



                And then my memory kicked in



                After answering this question, I realized it's a duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2. But since I've already answered this question, I'm not going to VTC.






                share|improve this answer











                $endgroup$
















                  3












                  3








                  3





                  $begingroup$

                  Avatar was a fun movie to watch, but a lot of it was fantasy



                  Can you float a superconductor without an external current? Sure you can. What you need is a strong enough magnetic field to induce the necessary current in the superconductor. for example, in that Youtube video, a neodymium magnet floats atop a super cold superconductor.



                  The problem you have is that planetary magnetospheres are insanely weak. The magnets holding your child's drawings on your fridge are 200X stronger than Earth's magnetosphere and you can't float a superconductor with a fridge magnet.



                  Does this stop you?



                  Not necessarily. You simply need to justify a strong enough magnetosphere that it would magnetize the fillings in a visitor's teeth.



                  Or do what Cameron did: ignore the details and tell a good story.



                  But, according to your question you don't want a magnetosphere of that strength. That leaves one answer: sorry, it can't be done based on the science we know today.



                  BTW, for fascinating insight into the idea of lethal magnetism, check out this post from our sister site, Physics.SE.



                  And then my memory kicked in



                  After answering this question, I realized it's a duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2. But since I've already answered this question, I'm not going to VTC.






                  share|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$



                  Avatar was a fun movie to watch, but a lot of it was fantasy



                  Can you float a superconductor without an external current? Sure you can. What you need is a strong enough magnetic field to induce the necessary current in the superconductor. for example, in that Youtube video, a neodymium magnet floats atop a super cold superconductor.



                  The problem you have is that planetary magnetospheres are insanely weak. The magnets holding your child's drawings on your fridge are 200X stronger than Earth's magnetosphere and you can't float a superconductor with a fridge magnet.



                  Does this stop you?



                  Not necessarily. You simply need to justify a strong enough magnetosphere that it would magnetize the fillings in a visitor's teeth.



                  Or do what Cameron did: ignore the details and tell a good story.



                  But, according to your question you don't want a magnetosphere of that strength. That leaves one answer: sorry, it can't be done based on the science we know today.



                  BTW, for fascinating insight into the idea of lethal magnetism, check out this post from our sister site, Physics.SE.



                  And then my memory kicked in



                  After answering this question, I realized it's a duplicate of Floating cities with a new superconductor v2. But since I've already answered this question, I'm not going to VTC.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Apr 3 at 20:44

























                  answered Apr 3 at 20:37









                  JBHJBH

                  47.9k699224




                  47.9k699224






























                      draft saved

                      draft discarded




















































                      Thanks for contributing an answer to Worldbuilding Stack Exchange!


                      • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                      But avoid



                      • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                      • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                      Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                      To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                      draft saved


                      draft discarded














                      StackExchange.ready(
                      function () {
                      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f143152%2fcan-the-meissner-effect-explain-very-large-floating-structures%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                      }
                      );

                      Post as a guest















                      Required, but never shown





















































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown

































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown







                      Popular posts from this blog

                      數位音樂下載

                      When can things happen in Etherscan, such as the picture below?

                      格利澤436b