Levitating Barbecue! Electromagnetic Induction

At the Palais de la Decouverte in Paris, they showed me this experiment where a 1kg aluminium plate is levitated above a large coil of wire that is being supplied with 800A of alternating current at 900Hz. This is by far the best demonstration of electromagnetic induction I have ever seen.

Back in London, I visited the magnetic lab of Michael Faraday in the basement of the Royal Institution. It was here that he did his groundbreaking work on induction. People had previously observed that current in a wire causes a compass needle to deflect, but more exciting was the prospect of using a magnetic field to generate current. Faraday created his famous induction ring by winding two coils of insulated wire onto an iron ring. When he connected a battery to one coil, a small pulse of current was induced in the other. When the battery was disconnected, current was induced in the other direction. This led Faraday to the conclusion that current was induced in the second coil only when the magnetic field through it was changing.

And if they hadn't been wrapped on the same ring, Faraday may have noticed that the two coils repel each other when the current is induced due to the interaction of their magnetic fields. This is the same thing that is happening with the aluminium plate, except we're using alternating current to create a continually changing magnetic field. This induces an alternating current in the plate, producing an opposing magnetic field which levitates the disk.

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Unveil the Unseen: Dive into the World of 'Captain Disillusion'

In today's digital age, where information is at everyone's fingertips, it's easy to get swept away by seemingly unbelievable content that inundates our screens daily. Whether it's a mind-boggling viral video or an uncanny photo circulating online, distinguishing fact from fiction has become increasingly challenging. Enter 'Captain Disillusion,' a TV series that not only entertains but educates viewers on deciphering the truth behind visual fakery.

The first season of 'Captain Disillusion' introduces us to a world where appearances are often deceptive, and what you see isn't always what you get. Our titular hero, Captain Disillusion, steps up to guide audiences through this labyrinth of digital deception with his signature blend of humor and analytical prowess. With 106 episodes in its debut season, there's no shortage of content for eager minds ready to learn about the intricate art of debunking.

Each episode serves as a masterclass in skepticism and critical thinking, starting with Episode 1, where Captain Disillusion confronts the bizarre concept of violent penguins and tackles attention-seeking visual effects creators. As we move into Episode 2, the captain turns his vectorscope towards Japan's digital curiosities, unraveling their mysteries with precision.

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