Is Levitation Real? My Quick Coil Demo Proves It

Hook

Is levitation real? I stacked some donut magnets on coils in the workshop and yeah — it floated. Not sci-fi floating, but real magnetic push that lifted the top disc and gave a little electrical kick too.

Watch this experiment

I put the coils down, stacked the first magnet disc, then the middle one, then the top. Right away I felt heat and the top disc started to lift. Then I flipped the middle magnet and the top one to get opposing poles. The whole thing centered and levitated just enough to feel it through the bench.

What you'll learn

You’ll see exactly how close you can get magnets to coils before heat builds, how a simple pole flip changes everything, and why this counts as a real levitation electricity coil demonstration even if the multimeter didn’t give me clean numbers.

From the bench

The coils were already glued with hot glue and Gorilla Glue adhesive. I used three donut-style magnet discs. Bottom disc north-up, middle flipped to create a centered pole, top flipped for repulsion. The stack got warm fast. I plugged the multimeter in but only caught that there was “a little bit of a boost.” No steady volts or RPM because it was a static levitation test, not a spinning rotor.

How it works / what we changed

Magnets want to repel when like poles face each other. The coil sits in the middle and concentrates the field. By flipping the middle magnet I created a neutral pole right in the center so the top magnet could float above it. That’s the levitation effect we were chasing. I hadn’t fixed the top disc yet so it was free to rise. Worked better than I expected — I actually said “holy smoke” on camera.

How to levitation

To try this at home, start with three identical donut magnets and a simple coil. Place the bottom magnet, add the coil, then carefully place the middle magnet with opposite orientation so it wants to repel the bottom. The top magnet goes on with the same pole facing down as the middle’s top pole. Lower it slowly — you’ll feel the push. Keep the gap small but not touching. That’s the basic how to levitation setup I used. Heat builds quick so don’t leave it sitting long.

Magnetic pole flip

The key move was the magnetic pole flip on the middle disc. I flipped it so the pole in the very center became the dominant one for both the bottom and top magnets. That flip turned repulsion into a stable centered float instead of everything just sliding off sideways. One quick flip and the whole stack behaved differently — that’s what made the levitation possible.

Levitating magnets pole

Once the middle magnet was flipped I had a levitating magnets pole right in the center of the stack. The top disc sat on that invisible magnetic cushion. You could see it wobble a tiny bit before it settled. The levitating magnets pole is what gives the lift and keeps it from crashing down. I felt the force through my fingers when I tried to push it closer.

Levitation electricity coil demonstration

This whole thing was my levitation electricity coil demonstration. With the magnets hovering I got a small electrical reading on the multimeter — enough to call it a boost. The coils were generating something from the changing magnetic field even though nothing was spinning. That’s why I keep coming back to these experiments: levitation plus a little electricity in one simple stack.

Builder checklist

• Three matching donut magnets
• Working coil (16 AWG or similar from earlier builds)
• Hot glue or Gorilla Glue to fix base
• Multimeter ready on DC volts
• Safe distance from fingers — magnets snap hard
• Fire extinguisher nearby (coils get hot)

Troubleshooting

If it won’t levitate, check pole orientations twice. One wrong flip and they attract instead of repel. Too much weight on top kills the lift. If coils overheat, add a small gap or reduce current. I didn’t get a clean voltage reading so if your meter stays at zero, try moving the top magnet up and down slowly to induce more change.

Safety

These magnets are strong. Keep fingers clear when stacking — they can pinch. Coils heated up immediately so watch for burns. Work on a non-flammable surface. Unplug power when you’re done tweaking. No high voltages here but the heat and snap can still surprise you.

FAQ

Is levitation real?

Yes — permanent magnets and coils can produce measurable lift and a small electrical output as shown in the demo.

How long does the levitation last?

Only while the magnets stay cool. Heat kills the effect fast.

Can this spin like a pulse motor?

Not in this static stack, but the same coils and magnets appear in my other pulse motor videos.

Do I need special coils?

No. The ones I had on hand worked fine.

Related on this site

• Magnetic Levitation on a Pole – Experiment 1
• Hanging in the Balance – Levitation with Six Donut Magnets
• How to Wind Coils for a Pulse Motor
• Pulse Motor Rotor Design

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