There are many uses for magnets. One of the more interesting uses of magnets is how they are used to both suspend, and propel trains. In this day and age, there are not many vehicles that can match the performance of an airplane, in terms of being able to transport a large number of passengers in such a short amount of time. The average train has the ability to carry a large number of passengers, but is not as good when the need for speed arrives. Maglev trains are a solution to this problem, with the ability to run at speeds much higher than conventional trains, and transport just as many passengers. If maglev trains were more commonplace, I would expect that air travel would be much less common, due to train travel being relatively inexpensive …show more content…
This levitation means that there is no friction force between the train car and the track, and therefore much less drag than a standard train. This reduction in drag generally means an increase in speed. The other advantage to the levitation is that unlike a traditional train, where the steel wheels turning on a steel track cause movement, a maglev train has no steel-to-steel contact. The drawback of the steel-to-steel contact is that there is not a high enough coefficient of friction for trains to climb steep hills. Most traditional trains are limited to 2 to 3 percent grade because of this. Since the maglev train does not need to worry about traction they can go up steeper inclines, making them more viable for use in more places. In addition to not having to worry about the slope that the train can climb, maglev trains are also less susceptible to being shut down by snow and ice that could cause traction problems. This lack of friction also has advantages over a conventional train when it comes to maintenance. Because the train is levitating, and does not touch the tracks, there it less wear on the parts because they do not come in contact as much as on a conventional …show more content…
The first is Electodynamic Suspension. This system was designed in japan and is used on multiple trains there. In a train with electrodynamic suspension, the track, also known as the guide way, is fitted with wire coils that are in the shape of an 8 and run parallel to a superconducting magnet that is fitted to the underside of the train with. The current induced in the wire coils by the magnetic flux from the superconductor creates a magnetic field, but because the wire is in a figure 8 shape, the top and bottom of the 8 have magnetic fields in opposite directions. The superconducting magnet is given the same magnetic field as the bottom loop of the 8. A diagram showing how this works can be seen in figure 1.1. As you can see, the direction of the induced current (indicated in blue, causes opposite magnetic fields, and the combination of the opposite magnetic fields, as well as the polarity of the superconducting magnet cause a net positive upward force. The bottom of the 8 repels the superconducting magnets, while the top of the 8 attracts the superconducting magnet and this causes the train to levitate. The force that the train is lifted by is the Lorentz force, modeled by the equation F=qv x B, where q is the charge in the charge the v is the velocity of the train, and B is the strength of the magnetic field in the guide rails. Obviously, each side of the train has an electrodynamic system, so
Ever wondered how roller coasters work? It’s not with an engine! Roller coasters rely on a motorized chain and a series of phenomena to keep them going. Phenomena are situations or facts that have been observed and proven to exist. A few types of phenomena that help rollercoasters are gravity, kinetic and potential energy, and inertia. Gravity pulls roller coasters along the track as they’re going downhill. Potential and kinetic energy help rollercoasters to ascend hills and gain enough momentum to descend them and finish the track. Inertia keeps passengers pressed towards the outside of a loop-the-loop and in their seat. Gravity, potential and kinetic energy, and inertia are three types of phenomena that can be observed by watching roller
The strategy behind the high-speed railway system would be to relieve highway congestion, air traffic congestion, and help reduce the necessity of expansion of highways and air systems (which is limited due to the inability to build new air space). Also, with this type of system (this system works on magnetic levitation), you would have a significant reduction in air pollution that would result as high-speed captures a large portion of the intercity travel market from automobiles and airlines.
Electric traction had numerous advantages over steam railroads. One major advantage was electric locomotive’s ability to pull heavier loads than steam locomotives (Bezilla, 30-31). One statement from electrical manufacturers’ stated that an electric locomotive could pull from five times its own weight on a 2% grade, whereas a steam locomotive on the same grade could only pull two times its own weight (Bezilla, 31). In addition to this, the electric motors could sustain higher currents for a short time in order to increase horsepower dramatically; steam engines had no analogous feature (Bezilla, 31). These factors combined allowed for electric locomotives to accelerate more rapidly, even while pulling more weight, than steam locomotives (Bezilla, 31). The electric motor also had less moving parts and thus needed less maintenance than complex steam engines (Bezilla, 31). For example, the Pennsylvania Railroad’s electric locomotives in 1940 were typically running 90% of the time, but the steam locomotives that the electric ones replaced had only ran 69% of the time (Bezilla, 32). The...
at top speed. At the top of the loop, gravity has slowed the train down somewhat, so it has more
No one person can be credited for the invention of the railroad; rather there are many individuals who contributed to the railways final design. To begin, as far back as the 16th century, Germans were using horse-drawn wagons, pulled along wooden rails. These systems were known as “wagonways” and are grandparents of modern railways. By 1776, wooden rails and wheels had been replaced by iron. Eventually, the wheels became flanged, allowing the wheels to better grip the rails. The major turning point of locomotives was the invention of the steam engine. The steam engine was invented by three different British inventors, over a period of a hundred years; to give only one man the credit would be a crime.
Rail in Chicago is essential to Railroads throughout the country of North America. Chicago is also the known for it’s center in the railways throughout America. In comparison to any other city in the country, Chicago offers more railroad tracks to the surrounding states. “Chicago today remains the busiest rail hub in the United States. Each day, nearly 1,300 trains pass through the region (500 freight and 760 passenger). Chicago handles one-fourth of the nation's freight rail traffic, each day handling 37,500 railcars” (About CREATE). Being the center for American freight Chicago also is known for it railyards. The railyards are gateways to the other rail tracks. It is home t...
Created by George Stephenson, the railroad was a specific type of road designed for trains. Like the name suggests, rails allow the train to not fall out in place and continue going in a steady and fast line. As trains developed, the railroad was more useful than ever. It was used to transport goods and people to locations. It was much more reliable than a boat and much faster. Many railroads were laid out in the western frontier of the US, this encouraged the westward movement. More goods were traveled faster which boosted the economy and people could effortlessly go from place to place. The rails were very cheap to make compared to the roads for cars making it a very efficient system. As the trains improved, the railroads only got more
...nduced in a conductor moving at right angles to and cutting across a magnetic flux. On the other hand, magnet is a useful in our daily life such as it can hold some documents and use to move an object. For example, a bicycle dynamo is a small generator fitted by bicycle to provide electricity for the lights bulb, it using the principle of electromagnetism. There are 2 law of electromagnetic induction such as Faraday’s Law and Lenz’s Law. In the other hand, Lenz’s Law state that induced current always flows in such a direction so as to opposite the change causing it. When north pole is approach the solenoid, the front part of solenoid will creates a north pole to produce a force of repulsion to oppose the change of motion. And the direction of current in the solenoid can determined by Right-hand Grip Rule. Lenz’s Law also is a form of law of conservation of energy.
...e rider or the car. But as the train hits a turn in the track, it will want to continue going forward. The track will impede this from happening and push back at the rider and the car, pinning the rider to the side of the car. Although the rider will feel as if there is a force acting on them towards the outside of the curve, there is actually a force called centripetal force pushing towards the inside of the track. This lateral force is actually a force of 1-G, or the equivalent of lying down on your side.
“A roller coaster is essentially a gravity-powered train (2).” Gravity is the weakest of the four physical forces, but when it comes to roller coasters, it is the dominant one. It is the driving force and what accelerates the train through all the turns and twists. Gravity is what applies a constant downward force on the cars. The deceleration or acceleration mostly depends on the inclination of the angle relative to the ground. The steeper the slope is, the greater the acceleration, and vice versa.
It would prevent accidents because all of the “pods” would be evenly spaced, so there would be no way for the trains to collide. Our new way of commuting from place-to-place is also very environmentally friendly. Many modern subway systems use gasoline or electricity to power their trains. However, our rapid transit system uses solar panels on each of our trains and on top of the beam where the train is attached.
Furthermore, the high-speed rail network could mean twenty-nine million fewer car trips and 500,000 fewer plane flights annually, according to a 2006 study ...
Rail transportation is a transportation in which for movement of people and goods which from one location to another destination. Rail had been takes the important role in physical and economic development of town and cities in a country and it was developed over the world. Rail transport can be made a property value in a country increase and it must be needs improvement in transportation network expanding (Goldberg, 1970). Thus, the railway services need to be done with continuous improvement and it is important to the rail passengers of the range and quality of facilities and service on stations and trains (Gleave, S. D., 2000). The future development to a public transportation is a key to affect
A magnet has an invisible field that forces other objects to respond to its properties. This powerful force, which is referred to as the magnetic field, has particles called electrons that actively shift and move within the field. These electrons constantly revolve around the poles, thereby creating energy that attracts objects. Because of this, a magnet has the ability to draw objects towards itself. This ability, which is called magnetism, is caused by the force field that magnets create through its protons (positive charge) and electrons (negative charge).
Maglevs are the fastest type of train in the twentieth century, but also the least used and built. So what makes these trains so special, at least special enough that they would be used in the future? Mankind has always dreamt about flying, going to the center of the earth, and levitation. This can be proven by reading more recent literature and by watching films. This has sparked the imagination in the twentieth and ninetieth century and has led to great advancements, events and discoveries. One of these events would be walking on the moon July 20, 1969. Now trains have advanced farther than mankind would have ever imagined. People have finally created the first levitating train.