Cumulative General Science/Technology Quiz

[History_Buff]

I know I can't win, but based purely on your water comment, does it involve molecular polarity of the substance in question?

 

[a_propagandist]

I know I can't win, but based purely on your water comment, does it involve molecular polarity of the substance in question?

About to answer with "polarity".

You took my answer!

 

[uppi]

No, polarity isn't involved. Polarity is an electric characteristic, I am looking for a magnetic characteristic.

 

[nonconformist]

Ferromagnetism?

 

[uppi]

Ferromagnetism?

No, but we're slowly getting there.

 

[brennan]

Paramagnetism?

Diamagnetism?

 

[uppi]

Diamagnetism?

Yes, that's it. For something to levitate in a magnetic field it has to be diamagnetic. If a dimagnetic object is placed in a strong enough inhomogenous field at the right place it can levitate.

Superconductors can be seen as "perfect diamagnets", that's why it's easy to get them to levitate.

Water is also diamagnetic, so it is possible to manage levitation with things that are mostly water.
These guys have made videos of a frog and a strawberry and other things levitating.

Your turn.

 

[brennan]

Geez, and I can't even remember what those words mean.

In what phase of matter can a material be 'smectic' or 'nematic'?

 

[nonconformist]

Plasma?

XCL

 

[Perfection]

Liquid????????????????????

 

[History_Buff]

Bose-Einstein Condensate!

I love multiple choice.

 

[brennan]

No, no and no!

 

[Catharsis]

GAS

perhaps?

 

[brennan]

'Fraid not.

 

[Catharsis]

Fermionic condensate? /randomguessing

 

[brennan]

I can't believe no one's said 'Solid' yet...

 

[Mise]

SOLID!!!!!

e

 

[brennan]

Nope.

 

[nonconformist]

That other phase of matter?

 

[Catharsis]

Trick question! You made those words up.