Magnetic Field Deflects Water Jet

Deflection of a vertically falling jet of distilled water by a permanent magnetic field was studied experimentally and theoretically. Water jet with a diameter at the base of the jet d = 1.1 ± 0.05 mm was deflected by the magnetic field of intensity B = 0.63 ± 0.03 T produced by a permanent neodymium magnet. The average angular deflection of the water jet was experimentally established as θ ≅ 5.0 × 10-3 rad ≅ 0.3° for B(x) = B0e-λx, B0 = 0.66 T; λ = 0.123 m-1; |∂B/∂x| ≅ 70-80 T/m. Semiquantitative theory of the effect is suggested, which is in satisfactory agreement with the experimental findings. The effect emerges from the bulk force, which pushes the diamagnetic body out of the gradient magnetic field. Applications of this effect are discussed.