Maglev Train

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“Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him,”- President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Maglev is a new type of train that uses magnets to levitate above the track and reduce friction. Maglev can go up to a speed of 310 mph (500 km/h) allowing people to travel on land much faster than before. The researcher will create a model Maglev and see which system, EMS or EDS, will result in better efficiency. Efficiency will be measured by the ratio of weight of train to the time to cross the track. If EMS weighs more but is faster while EDS weighs less but more to operate, than EMS should result in better efficiency because the train will weigh less.

How Maglev Works

Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS)

Electromagnets are magnets that can be turned on and off with electricity. There is a big power source, metal coils in the track and magnets under the carts. The Maglev does not have an engine but is propelled by magnets in the track, called a guideway. Magnets in the guideway, repel the magnets in the train causing it to levitate between 1 to 10 cm. The magnets in front of the train are turned to pull the train while the magnets behind the train push it. Since the train is levitating, the friction is taken away and can cause the train to go up to speeds up to 500 km/h (310 mph).

A German company called Transrapid uses Electrodynamic Suspension (EMS). The bottom of the train wraps around the track and levitating it at 1 cm. Transrapid has shown that this system can cause the train to go 300 mph with people on board.

Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS)

Japan uses a system called Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS). It uses super-cooled superconducting magnets that ar...

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The fastest speed of a passenger train is 350 km/h while the the Shanghai Maglev can reach up to speeds of 430 km/h

Maglevs are not used for inner-city transportation yet, but hopefully soon.

O)"Shanghai Maglev Train." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 25 Oct. 2013.

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

The Shanghai Maglev train cost 1.2 billion dollars.

It took 1.5 years to build the 30.5 km track.

It takes the train about 15-20 minutes to complete its journey.

P) "Dwight D Eisenhower Quotes & Sayings." Dwight D Eisenhower Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

http://www.searchquotes.com/quotes/author/Dwight_D_Eisenhower/

“Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him,”- President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

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