Fun Facts
- It has been around for many years
- The main advantage for Maglev is the high capacity which it can hold
- Maglev's low energy consumption, low maintenance potential offer very low operating expenses
- They use it for trains and planes
- Also called magnetic suspension
- Two primary issues are lifting force and stability
- It costs 3 cents per passenger per mile for a train ride that uses maglev
- Maglev guide ways will last for 50 years
- Japan has spent over $2 million investing in maglev
- Maglev is used to demonstrate the levitation of a globe using magnets
Scientific Facts
- It needs a superconductor and a magnet
- 3 components are required for maglev to work: a power source, metal coil, and guidance magnets
- In 1902, the first magnetic train was invented by Alfred Zehden
- In 2004, the fastest maglev train was invented for passengers to ride on
- Superconductors produce mirrored images of each other
- The longest Maglev in use today is the Shanghai Maglev at 30.5 km
- maglev is short for Magnetic Levitation
- Instead of having wheels like regular trains, the maglev train floats on a magnetic cushion between the vehicle and track, and is held on the tracks by electromagnetic pull
- a method of propulsion that uses magnetic levitation to propel vehicles with magnets rather than with wheels, axles and bearings
- A strong magnetic field is required to levitate a maglev vehicle