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diamagetism in water

Water also has diamagnetic properties. However the force is so week, it need very strong magnetic fields to be able to levitate water. The Dutch has done some fameous experiments with flying frogs at magnetic fields of appr 20T, compared to a neodym magnet wich can reach 1T. Thic high field could be achived by 6MW of electric power and and forced cooling with water.

A simple way to show that even water has magnetic properties is to place a magnet under the surface of water. The magnetic field is strong enough to alter the flat surface just a fraction of micrometers. Even though the altering of surface level just above the magnets is very small, it is easily detected by looking at the reflection from a fluorecent lamp.  The profile of  the lamp is somewhat distorted by the bending of the surface.  There is no possibility the surface tension could cause this, becouse the magnets are completly immersed under the liquid and there is no solid-liquid interface.


A simple sketch how it looks like,  The magnets are placed on a  iron plate and fully immersed under the water surface.


picture of the magnets and the reflection from a lamp. The photo dosen´t  give any good view due to bad exposure, but it is clearly seen by the eye.


To verify that it really is the magnetic field that is causing the distorsion on the surface, the magnet are  flipped up side down, and the iron plate cancel all magnetic fields. The  view of the lamp is here flat. (both the magnet and the plate are plated with nickel)