So, What WOULD Happen If a Magnet Were Dropped Down a Superconducting Tube?
There are lots of different things that could happen.
The possibilities that leap to mind are:
1) The magnet could sit in the mouth of the tube, in
stable equilibrium between gravitational and magnetic
forces, like a magnet floating above a superconducing
dish.
2) Depending on masses, sizes, field strength, and
initial conditions, might be unstable, like a magnet
above a very poorly designed dish.
3) Depending on (same factors) it might go well and
truly into the tube. Then its energy will be very
nearly independent of position along the tube, and
it will fall freely.
3a) You can easily design the magnet so it will center
itself in the tube, floating like a maglev train.
3b) Or not.
_______________________________________________
Phys-L mailing list
Phys-L@electron.physics.buffalo.edu https://www.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l