You will need a total of eight ring magnets. The magnets are to be
bonded together into four pairs. The diagram below shows the final
stacking arrangement. Using a dowel that slips snugly into the center
hole of the magnets, glue each pair togther while held in proper
alignment with the dowel. The magnets will repel each other so I suggest
a thin viscosity, fast curing 'superglue' like adhesive. You can remove
the dowel when the glue has set. When finished you will have three
identical pairs and one opposite pair.
Now its time to have some fun. The pairs of magnets can be arranged as
in the diagram. In this arrangement the pair to the side will orbit the
stack in a VERY stable position at the center.
Of course by orbit I don't mean that it is self propelling, but rather
if you give it a little nudge it will roll around the center of the
stack quite easily.
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| N |
| S |
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| S |
| N |
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| S | | N |
| N | | S |
--------------- ---------------
--------------- ---------------
| N | | S |
| S | | N |
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| N |
| S |
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| S |
| N |
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Another interesting arrangement is to take the one odd pair and arrange
the remaining three identical pairs around it in a triangle or 'clover
leaf'. The three pairs will mutually repel from each other but will
stick to the center pair keeping them equidistant. This arrangement is
not as stable though unless you make more 'orbital' pairs and place them
in the center 'track' of the three pair stack.
This all is a good demonstration of how Searl's rollers and rings stay
in alignment with one another. Except he relies on magnetic fields
produced by eddie currents in the aluminum at the edges of the rings to
keep them in place, but the principle is similar.
I have one of these sitting on a 'toy' shelf in my office and invariably
visitors will notice the magnet sticking to the side of the stack and
begin to play with it. Everyone seems to find it very facinating how
stubbornly the 'orbital' roller sticks to the stack yet rolls around it
so easily.
-Gerald O'