Maglev Train
Created by Alex Page, Mitch Keller, Kyle
Zimmermann, and Bryan Henne
The Purpose:
In recent years, the development of Maglev trains as an
alternative to conventional trains has become more prevalent across the
globe. Using powerful magnets to float
and propel a train down the track conserves a great
amount of energy and eliminates the usage of fossil fuels. As a result of this unique system, friction
is virtually eliminated, allowing the train to travel at high rates of
speed. Countries throughout
The Concept:
The track is created by the strip magnets laid on the
wood. The underside of the train is
lined with magnets which have the same pole facing outwards as the tracks. The result of the two like poles facing each
other is the levitation of the car. The plexiglass guidway is used to
stabilize the train because Earnshaw’s Theorem states
that magnetic levitation cannot occur without stabilization. In order to propel the car from one end of
the tracks to the other, a small push is needed. One can see that little energy is necessary
to cause the car to travel a large distance.
This is the primary concept behind actual Maglev trains.