Understanding the physics of the asymmetric flying capacitor

The ion-propelled aircraft, or lifter, is a very curious capacitor-like apparatus which levitates when high voltages (V ≥ 20kV) are applied. At the Physics Institute of the University of São Paulo, examples of these `flying capacitors´ were constructed and the physics laws that better explain the observed behavior are presented and discussed in this paper. Basically, the phenomena known as “corona effect” and the “propulsion by air ionization plasma” are the two fundamental factors which yield proper explanations for the experimental results obtained.