To me, this video looks like the sample is experiencing a torque, not a force. (Or at least not a force that is sizable compared to the sample’s weight.). The

To me, this video looks like the sample is experiencing a torque, not a force. (Or at least not a force that is sizable compared to the sample’s weight.). The sample is doing a remarkable job of cavorting without actually going anywhere. Magnetic dipoles experience a torque proportional to the applied field, whereas the force is proportional [0] to the field’s gradient. The field gradient may be fairly small near the surface of a big magnet. Plenty of things are magnetic dipoles or can be induced to become dipoles in the presence of a magnetic field. Ever played with iron filings and a magnet? Or a ferrofluid and a magnet? [0] Assuming the dipole moment is constant.