February 27, 2019

“Solar-Powered Levitating Lamp”

( Group 2 )

Christopher Blake E. Gorecho

Ronnie T. Neri Jr.

Glorimel L. Chan

Glen Jlieza T. Fuentecilla

Leancynel T. Magallanes

Angel Fate C. Ordoyo

Jene Valerie F. Serino

 Chapter I

Introduction

Background of the Study

Today's generation is progressing continuously, new inventions and innovations are created.

There are too many advanced technologies in terms of transportation, manufacturing,

communication, levitation, and many more. Some examples of advanced technologies are the

self-driving trucks, face-detecting systems, and levitating objects.

According to Yaghoubi (2013) Magnetic levitation is a method by which an object is suspended

in the air with no support other than magnetic fields. The fields are used to reverse or

counteract the gravitational pull and any other counter accelerations. Magnetic levitation can

create frictionless, efficient, far-out-sounding technologies. It has already found many other

important uses in science and technology. Today, it helps circulate blood in human chests,

manufactures integrated circuits with multimillion-dollar photolithography systems, measures

fine dimensions with subatomic resolution, enhances wind-tunnel and plasma research, melts

and mixes reactive high-temperature metals, simulates the sense of touch in haptics systems,

cools our laptop computers, enriches uranium and other isotopes in centrifuges, stores energy

in spinning flywheels, and floats spinning rotors with low friction in countless rotating machines

around the world. Fighting the forces of gravity and friction is one of the things that magnets do

best.
In 1983, Roy Harrigan received a patent for a “levitation device” that consisted of a small

spinning magnet floating above a large base magnet, and Bill Hones of Fascinations, Inc., later

developed Harrigan’s idea into a successful commercial product called the Levitron. The

spinning magnet of the Levitron was pushed upward by the repulsion forces between like poles.

It floated fully contact-free, getting around Earnshaw’s rule because it was not a static magnet.

At first glance, it seems that it is simple gyroscopic action that keeps the spinning magnet from

tipping over, but detailed mathematical analysis by several prominent scientists soon showed

that the stability of the Levitron is a bit more complicated than that (Yaghoubi, 2013).

From the viewpoint of engineering science, one category of magnetic levitation is Architectural

Engineering and Interior Design Engineering including household and administrative appliances

such as lamp, chair, sofa, bed, washing machine, etc..

The researchers opted to use solar panel as a source of energy for the levitating lamp. Ramon

(2006) stated that solar power is produced by collecting sunlight and converting it into

electricity. This is done by using solar panels, also called photovoltaics or solar PV, it is a type of

solar cell system that uses semiconductor technology to convert energy from sunlight into

electricity. Solar electricity is increasingly appearing in more and more consumer devices driven

by reducing cost, increasing performance and reducing energy demands in small electronic

devices. Besides being environmentally friendly, solar cells provide significant savings on

electricity bill.
Levitation is responsible for the lack of contact and thus no wear and friction is obtained by the

solar panel and lamp. In connection to this information, the proponents prompted to fabricate

an innovative device using levitation that increases efficiency, reduces maintenance costs, and

increases the useful life of the system.

Statement of the Problem

The main purpose of the study is to innovate a device that can levitate a Solar Powered Lamp.

Specifically it aims to:

1. attain repulsion and stability of magnets in the base and object;

2. identify the exact arrangement and type of magnet to be used for levitation; and

3. determine the distance between the base and the object to obtain repulsion in the base

and object.

Significance of the Study

The main goal of this study is to identify the type and arrangement of magnets used for

levitation and the distance between the base and the object to attain repulsion in order to

levitate a solar powered lamp. This study will benefit everyone especially those people who

wants to reduce their electricity bills. Since they will be meeting some of their energy needs

with the electricity that their solar powered lamp has generated, they’ll be able to have

significant savings on their electrical bills.

Scope and Limitations

This study “Solar Powered Levitating Lamp” is conducted at Lanao del Norte National

Comprehensive High School, Baroy, Lanao del Norte. The testing was done in the Physics

Laboratory and it limits only on innovating a device that can attain repulsion and stability of

magnets in the base and object in order to levitate a Solar-Powered Lamp from September

2018 to March 2019.

Definition of Terms

Electricity - is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of

matter that has a property of electric charge.

Electric meter - is a device that measures the amount of electric energy consumed by a

building, tenant space, or electrically powered equipment.

Gyroscopic - is a device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity.

Magnet - is a material or object that produces a magnetic field.

Magnetic field - is a vector field that describes the magnetic influence of electrical currents and

magnetized materials.

Magnetic levitation - is a method by which an object is suspended with no support other than

magnetic fields.

Propulsion - the action of driving or pushing forward.

Repulsion - a force under the influence of which objects tend to move away from each other.

Rotor - is a moving component of an electromagnetic system in the electric motor, electrical

generator or alternator.

Solar panel - a panel designed to absorb the sun's rays as a source of energy for generating

electricity or heating.

Solar power - is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using

photovoltaics, indirectly using concentrated solar power, or a combination.

Stability - is the ability of substance to remain uncharged over time under stated or reasonably

expected conditions of storage and use.