Levitation is the process by which an object is suspended against gravity, in a stable position, by a force without physical contact. This can be achieved through jets of gas pushing upwards against the object (as in air hockey), or pushing downwards from the object (as in helicopters, VTOL aircraft, and hovercraft). A sphere can be stably levitated in a stream of air without any type of control system, if conditions are right. These effects are due to Bernoulli's principle.
Objects with the right properties can be levitated without even indirect contact through the use of magnetic or electric forces.
Some claim there are other ways - using methods not yet known to modern science - to levitate objects. The term is also used in reference to an apparent levitation.
For more information about each form of levitation, follow the links below:
Last updated: 10-14-2005 14:29:44
