University of Maryland Three Meter Experiment
The Three Meter Geodynamo experiment is the latest in a series of progressively larger experiments in the Lathrop Lab at the University of Maryland to study how planets generate magnetic fields. We are essentially trying to build planetary cores in the lab.
We hope the Three Meter experiment will generate a magnetic field from a rotating turbulent flow of liquid sodium metal.
The experiment is now in an assembly and testing phase.
When complete it will contain nearly 13 tons (13,000kg) of sodium metal flowing in the space between a 3 meter diameter outer sphere (shown here in a rotation test) and a 1 meter diameter inner sphere concentric with the outer. Each sphere has a 350 horsepower (250kW) electric motor to drive its rotation. The inner sphere models the Earth’s solid inner core; the sodium models the Earth’s fluid outer core, the source of the Earth’s main magnetic field.
For more information on this experiment and other experiments at Dan Lathrop’s lab at the University of Maryland, please visit http://complex.umd.edu
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
no offence but u are absolutely awfull with the camera.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
a 3 axis gimbal would make it somewhat safer and also show the relationship between the earth and that spinning fluid mass thing.
cant wait to see it fired up!
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
has it been done small scale to begin with?
that thing is huge!
it might try to align itself to the earth as tho its in orbit and rip itself off the mountings
could probably use mercury instead of sodium
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
that’s exactly what i thought
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Needs more cowbell.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
so there is a bunch of liquid sodium in it?
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
This looks like something out of Riven or Myst.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Cool…
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
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February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
It’s true that it’s heavy, but it’s mounted on very good bearings in a strong framework. The magnetic field it creates outside the sphere could take on a wide range of strengths but I’d guess it wouldn’t be more than a few hundred times the Earth’s field strength, and that’s not enough to get ferrous objects airborne
. Practically everything within a couple meters of the sphere is bolted down or welded down anyway. The purple light you see is just a flare from the room lights.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
It is really heavy! I think I read something about it makes a magnetic field, it will not damage electronic devices around? The purple light aroudn minute 1:00 is an effect on camera electronics or just light as in a rainbow? If it creates a magnetic field, all the iron pieces around will be attracted by the giant ball, and it could make it all loss of stabilization and fall, no? It looks like pretty heavy!
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Ah ok, sorry for sounding agressive! It’s not dangerous at all, it’s basically a spinning ball of metal. I’m a scientist myself and considered at one stage running a much smaller version of this to see if it would work.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Yes, but all about physics and chemical things are very confusing for me, I am not an expert in this… I just wish them the best and they do not get hurt by anything, it looks like dangerous. I would like to know more about it to understand what is happening there but it is not my strong and for sure with my knowledgements I won’t understand why happen everything. Anyway I’m sure it is a very interesting thing ad I like to see things like that
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Whoa, really? Where can one read more information about the weakening magnetic field?
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Bomb? Did you even watch the video? Or read the info?
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Hallo! Is is a new kind of bomb? How long until the US army discovers an application of this technology to make bombs? Would you allow it? If no, even if they pay too much money? Good luck with your experiment, be carefull, take care and stay well! By the way, sodium is a metal? Are there computer cases made of sodium? I don’t understand :S Good luck, good luck!
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
I heard about this project on NPR this morning. It’s an amazing undertaking! Best of luck cracking the mysteries of planetary magnetic fields!
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Sodium is the most electrically conductive liquid. It’s used in several magnetohydrodynamic experiments because the generation of magnetic field by fluid motion is in competition with ohmic decay of the field as the current that’s supporting the magnetic field flows through an imperfect conductor.
Other liquid metals such as Mercury and Gallium have been used in such (smaller) experiments, but Sodium is a 10x better conductor than either, and has other advantages (low density & inexpensive).
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Why do you use sodium?
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Huzzah! We have spin!!
And hopefully no more leaks and impromptu “gravity experiments” ok guys?
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Maybe the magnetic field of the earth also depend on the Sun and other heavenly bodies, and is not only depending on the earths own magnetic forces?
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Many thanks all for the comments. There is some description at the right under “About this video.” Also, the Earth’s gravitational field is clearly due to mass — we seek to understand the failing of the Earth’s magnetic field. It is weakening in a way science has no ability to predict, for now. We build earth-like models in order to assist in building a predictive science of the geodynamo.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Wow…what an interesting experiment. Nothing more awesome than a sphere that’ll be filled with sodium and spun on it’s axis to mimic the earth’s gravitational field! I bet all the guys on this are super intelligent and have the best pick-up like ” Hey Baby want to go back to my lab and see my 3 meter-dynamo” WOO! GO AXEL!
February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 am
The apparatus looks great guys. But for those of us who don’t know all that much about your project – it might be nice to shoot a video with a bit of narration explaining what is/is going to be inside of it, how fast it’s going, what this pertains to in science, etc. Make it sound interesting, then more people will get excited about it! Just a thought. Keep up the good work!