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Related Concept Videos

Other Unique Bacteria01:18

Other Unique Bacteria

Magnetic bacteria exhibit a directed movement called magnetotaxis, driven by structures called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes consist of chains of magnetic particles made of either magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or greigite (Fe₃S₄) and are organized in a linear conformation by a protein scaffold within invaginations of the cell membrane. The bacteria align along the north–south magnetic field lines, much like a compass needle. They are typically microaerophilic or anaerobic and are commonly found near the...
Magnetic Force01:18

Magnetic Force

In addition to the electric forces between electric charges, moving electric charges exert magnetic forces on each other. A magnetic field is created by a moving charge or a group of moving charges known as the electric current. A magnetic force is experienced by a second current or moving charge in response to this magnetic field. Fundamentally, interactions between moving electrons in the atoms of two bodies produce magnetic forces between them.
The magnetic force acting on a moving charge...
Potential Due to a Magnetized Object01:24

Potential Due to a Magnetized Object

Magnetic dipoles in magnetic materials are aligned when placed under an external magnetic field. For paramagnets and ferromagnets, dipole alignment occurs in the direction of the magnetic field. However, the dipoles align opposite to the field in the case of diamagnets. This state of magnetic polarization due to the external field is called magnetization. Magnetization is defined as the dipole moment per unit volume. It plays a similar role to polarization in electrostatics.
The vector...
Magnetic Field Of A Current Loop01:16

Magnetic Field Of A Current Loop

Consider a circular loop with a radius a, that carries a current I. The magnetic field due to the current at an arbitrary point P along the axis of the loop can be calculated using the Biot-Savart law.
Magnetism01:30

Magnetism

Magnets are commonly found in everyday objects, such as toys, hangers, elevators, doorbells, and computer devices. Experimentation on these magnets shows that all magnets have two poles: one is labeled north (N) and the other south (S). Magnetic poles repel if they are alike and attract if unlike. Moreover, both poles of a magnet attract unmagnetized pieces of iron.
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...
Magnetic Flux01:18

Magnetic Flux

The magnetic flux measures the number of magnetic field lines passing through a given surface area. The SI unit for magnetic flux is the weber (Wb). Magnetic flux is a scalar quantity. It depends on three factors: the strength of the magnetic field B, the area through which the field lines pass, and the relative orientation of the field with the surface area.
Suppose a surface is divided into elements of area dA. For each element, the component of the magnetic field that is normal to the...

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Cardiac Muscle-cell Based Actuator and Self-stabilizing Biorobot - PART 1
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Self-assembled magnetic surface swimmers.

A Snezhko1, M Belkin, I S Aranson

  • 1Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA.

Physical Review Letters
|April 28, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Novel magnetic microparticle chains spontaneously swim on liquid surfaces, propelled by magnetic fields. Researchers controlled their movement by adjusting field parameters or attaching beads, creating self-locomoting magnetic snakes.

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Area of Science:

  • Soft Matter Physics
  • Microfluidics
  • Surface Science

Background:

  • Self-assembly of microparticles creates dynamic structures.
  • Magnetic fields can manipulate microscale objects.
  • Surface tension and fluid dynamics govern interfacial phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate self-assembly of magnetic microparticles into surface swimmers.
  • Explore mechanisms of spontaneous and controlled propulsion.
  • Develop a model to describe the observed hydrodynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Dispersion of magnetic microparticles at a liquid-air interface.
  • Application of alternating magnetic fields to energize swimmers.
  • Observation and analysis of surface flow symmetry breaking and propulsion.
  • Fabrication of bead-snake hybrids for controlled locomotion.
  • Development of a phenomenological model coupling surface waves and hydrodynamic flow.

Main Results:

  • Magnetic microparticle chains (snakes) self-assemble at liquid interfaces.
  • Snakes exhibit spontaneous symmetry breaking of surface flows, leading to self-propulsion.
  • Propulsion velocity is tunable via magnetic field parameters.
  • Bead-snake hybrids demonstrate controlled self-locomotion.
  • A phenomenological model successfully describes the observed phenomena.

Conclusions:

  • Novel self-propelled magnetic surface swimmers can be created from microparticle dispersions.
  • Symmetry breaking in surface flows is a key mechanism for propulsion.
  • The developed model provides insights into the coupled dynamics of surface waves and fluid flow.