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Levitation (from Latin levis, light) is the process by which an object is suspended against gravity, in a stable position, by a force without physical contact.
Western science acknowledges that this can be achieved through jets of gas pushing upwards against the object (as in air hockey), or pushing downwards from the object (as in helicopters, VTOL aircraft, and hovercraft), while levitation is also a part of some eastern religions and magical beliefs.
A sphere can be stably levitated in a stream of air without any type of control system, if conditions are right. These effects are due to Bernoulli's principle. This was merchandised as a toy, circa 1960.
Objects with the right properties can be levitated without even indirect contact through the use of magnetic or electric forces. Technically, we are in a state of constant levitation, since our body exerts a force on physical bodies and they exert one in return (Newton's laws, the third one). So our bodies never actually come into contact with another object.
Some claim there are other ways - using methods not yet known to modern science - to levitate objects. These may include mystical or magick-related methods of raising an object off the ground. Perhaps the most stereotypically famous example is of monks and/or religious people that live a hermetic life levitating at will, a today-common element, almost a cliche, in fiction involving monks. It is said that the Christian theologian Thomas Aquinas was seen levitating after a mystical experience. The numerous stories involving religious or religion-related or induced levitation suggest that "true" or unaided (by apparent, or, at least, earthly forces) levitation may be a divine act or consequence of a divine revelation.
"Levitation" is also used in reference to an apparent levitation.
The original use of the word was to refer to such inexplicable claims, as in wonder stories and unauthenticated reports; the use of the word to describe an actual, physical means of "making things float in the air" is a recent development.
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See also
- Physical effects
- Magnetic levitation (rail systems etc)
- Electrostatic levitation
- Magic Illusions
- Metaphysical levitation (by means not known to modern science, such as witchcraft and the occult)
- Levitation is also the name of a band.