Superconductors

[calbiterol]

Here's a few questions on superconductors:

 

1. Superconductors that have electricity running through them can generate a magnetic field just like a wire can, right?
   
2. How do you make/get a hold of/etc a superconductor? I know they have to be supercooled right now, but how are they made? Are normal conductors just dropped in temperature until they become superconductors?
   
3. Could one be used to interact with Earth's magnetic field to produce a lifting force? (That's on a whim)
   
4. How do they work, in brief?
   

[5614]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconductors

tells you all about superconductors

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_pair

tells you all about cooper pairs, which explain superconductivity

 

superconductors are not 'every day' materials super cooled, they are specific materials usualy with complex names, e.g. YBa2Cu3O7 or Ba0.6K0.4BiO3 or Pr doped YBCO