Levitation of a spherical magnet in a magnetic fluid drop on a horizontal plane

Levitation of a spherical magnet in a magnetic fluid drop on the horizontal plane is investigated experimentally. Two cases are considered: without and with the uniform vertical magnetic field. In both cases orientations of magnetic moment of a magnet are studied experimentally. It is shown experimentally that the magnetic moment of the spherical magnet without an applied magnetic field is oriented horizontally in the MF drop, parallel to the non-magnetic plane. A mathematical model for arbitrary magnetic fields is proposed. The dependence of the levitation height of the magnet is theoretically investigated. Numerical calculations of magnet levitation height are compared with experimental results. •Magnet levitation of a magnetic fluid drop on a plane is investigated.•Two cases are considered: without and with the uniform vertical magnetic field.•Without a field, magnetic moment of the magnet is oriented along the plane.•Mathematical model for large magnetic field is used.•Calculations of the levitation height of the magnet coincide with experiments.