Magnetic Levitation Trains or Maglev Trains have been hitting the transportation industry for about a century. However, the construction took several years as it required a lot of experiments and researches to make it possible. The test debut occurred in September 2002 when China, together with a Germany-based company Transrapid International, proved that the innovation was plausible. The transportation method was made available to the public in December 2003.
The maglev train basically works on the idea that “magnets of same poles repel while different poles attract.” The railway and the bottom of the maglev train have high-powered magnets which are alighned on same poles, thus, the train levitates.
The maglev train project is highly efficient because it can work on almost all speed levels unlike the electrodynamic system which only works on a speed of 30 km/h or 19 mph. It also saves energy as it does not require a lot of electric power or fuel to function. The idea that it conserves energy and it moves faster compared to a conventional train made it a huge hit in the transportation idustry. Unfortunately, constructing a maglev train costs a lot which is why it is only used by rich nations.
Now in order for you to understand the concept of maglev train better, here’s a very nice experiment. You can purchase a kit from Dowling Magnets’s Amazon account at a very reasonable rate. However, it does not move since additional factors are still needed such as coils, amplifiers and so on. Please take note that an adult assistance is required due to the intricacies of the experiement.
So let’s start making your permanent maglev train!
What’s inside the kit?
2 half inch by 23 ½ inch long high-force magnetic strips
2 half inch by 5 7/8 inch long high-force magnetic strips
5 wooden blocks
6 plastic angles
Compass
Other Needed Materials
2 coins
Ruler
Pencil
Masking tape
Contact cement
The Procedure
- Line the 4 wooden boxes from end to end. Attach each block using 4 strips of masking tape.
- Create a guideline on your 5 blocks. Mark 2 5/8 inch on each side and create a line going through the end of the block. The line will serve as your guideline as to where you will have to attach your magnets.
- Apply a thin layer of contact cement on the sides of your block, just after the line. Make sure that you do not apply it on the middle.
- Get your 3 angles and apply contact cement on the outer side. Attach them on the sides of the block. Make sure that it will not pass through your guideline.
- Get the last block and attach 2 coins on one side. Secure the coins using two pieces of tape. The coins will ensure that there will be enough space between the “train block” and the railways because too narrow space will prevent the train to move and too wide space will not make the train levitate properly.
- Now, place the “train block” on top of the railway. Get your remaining plastic angles and attach them on the other side of the railway. The angles must stick to the side of the train block as the space created using the coins is already enough.
- Apply contact cement on the surface of the plastic angles.
- Get the long magnets and compass. Check each magnet for its north pole and mark it using a tape.
- Apply contact cement on the south pole side and stick it on the surface of the plastic angle. Do the same on the second magnet.
- Get your 2 short magnets. Check the north pole of both magnets once again using your compass. Mark the north pole using the masking tape.
- Apply contact cement on the south pole of both magnets and attach it on your train block. Place it on top of the railway and see how the magnets repel. Now you’ll see the reason how a maglev train levitates.
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