Can somebody with ferrofluid do a (relatively) simple test for me?

[Blainiac]

I've been thinking of digging up an old project I started a while ago.

It is based on LaFonte's perpendicular field concept.  The idea is that when a perpendicular field is applied to separate paramagnetic materials, they will align with the field and repel each other, creating a force in a direction that is perpendicular to the field, possibly a force that can be utilized.

An example is attached.

I was wondering if a cylinder of ferrofluid would have a similar effect.  It doesn't even have to be ferrofluid, but even a pile of iron shavings would work.

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I'm assuming that the magnets would be attracted to the ferrofluid as it came closer, and they would be pulled back as the magnets try to 'leave', which could be a sticky spot.  I'm thinking this sticky spot can be avoided by having a line (or circle) of the ferrofluid containers, so as the magnet is trying to leave one set of ferrofluid, it is attracted to the next, thus canceling the sticky spot.  I'm afraid the magnets will become more attracted to expanded ferrofluid, causing yet again another sticky spot...  Hmm.

[gyulasun]

I apologize but Butch used ferromagnetic materials like washers for his tests, not paramagnetic ones. When the outside flux is applied the washers or other ferromagnetic material become magnetized, all will be a small magnet with adjacent like poles hence will repel each other, and become separated.

If you accept this, then you may wish to modify your question or it is still ok?

[Blainiac]

You're exactly right! I typed paramagnetic for some reason.

[mscoffman]

@Blainiac,

I had an idea to use an elastic plastic envelope such as a toy
balloon to either enclose the washers and/or enclose a magnetic
fluid with water on outside, then to create an easy to build hydraulic
pump that would use the water to create an unbalanced pendulum. A
horseshoe magnet pointed upward from BDC Bottom Dead Center of
pendulum arc would create a temporary unbalancing pulse of water
that would cause the pendulum to  "pump" and rock back and forth
like a child's swing.

Overunity energy, from somewhere, would be required to keep it
running. I thought the idea was so good that I was setting up to make
this as experiment out of standard chemistry equipment such as large
O.D. testtubes and rubber stoppers. This would have a purchased
parts list and be repeatable, if it worked. If there is overunity energy
accompanying the La Forge concept, this relatively parametrically
stiff mechanism should operate and run on it.

The questions are; Would the expanded washers be differentially
sucked back into the magnet gap? Could the pendulum arc be
forced to run between the poles of a horseshoe magnet without
colliding with and attaching itself to a magnet pole?

I think user z.monkey was talking about about having created
some magnetic fluid recently in one of his posts...of course the
plastic envelope would need to be compatible if HC HydroCarbons
are used as the vehicle in the fluid. It may be better to use a
silicon lubricant in the magnetic fluid.

Ultimately a "minto wheel" like mechanism could be easily
be created - if the overunity energy is real.

:S:MarkCoffman

[XS-NRG]

Ah yes the fanner idea 

http://www.buntingmagnetics.com/content/upload/images/zoomed/Sheet%20Fanner%20color.jpg