Maglev Trains
Photo courtesy of: http://www.calpoly.edu/~cm/studpage/clottich/fund.html
Maglev, short for magnetic levitation, is a type of high-speed train that hovers over the track and uses electromagnets to propel it along the track. There are three basic components of the trains: a large electrical power source, metal coils lining the track, and large magnets attached underneath the train, which are used to guide it along the track and allow it to levitate. Since the trains do not actually touch the track, there is no friction present. This enables the train to reach speeds of approximately 300 mph. This also reduces the noise and vibrations common on other types of similar transportation. The large costs involved in building one of these systems is the issue currently prohibiting their widespread use. Within the United States, estimated costs are approximately $10 million to $30 million per mile. Currently, these types of trains are predominantly found in China, Germany, and Japan, although its use is still not widespread. The first commercial maglev train was made available to the public in Shanghai, China in 2003. The idea behind magnetic levitation can be traced back to the early 1900's, but it was not actually created until the 1960's. The work of physicists Jim Powell and Gordon Danby in Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, New York, sparked interest in these systems throughout the world. Research and development began for maglev trains in the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
The pages below will describe the two different types of maglev trains currently being used as well as additional resources on this topic.
Electrodynamic Suspension System
Electromagnetic Suspension System
~Website created by Leah Heim, Lindsey Long, and Natalia Newcomb for Physics 25 (Summer II 2005)~