NEATORAMA HOME | LITE/MOBILE VERSION | BEST OF NEATORAMA

Awesome Levitating Train

By Robert Birming in Science & Tech, Video Clips on Jan 12, 2008 at 5:53 am


Have a look below if you want to try to figure out how it works, or simply kick off your shoes, hit play and enjoy the ride.

The core of the bearings consists of a magnetic rail and super-conducting bulks, cooled to a temperature of -196°C. During the cooling process, the magnetic field of the rail will be written in the superconductors, which are positioned at a set distance from the magnetic rail. This enables them to retain a set horizontal position in relation to the rail. Their super-conducting operational temperature is maintained in cryostats, initially through cooling in liquid nitrogen.

Link [YouTube] – via Prylefeber


Share

Tags:


FROM THE NEATORAMA SHOP



COMMENT
  1. Christophe
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 7:56 am

    The Lionel Chemistry Set!

  2. Edward
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 9:53 am

    Please allow me to be the first to say, "Cool!"

    I also would like to say, "That was neat!"

  3. Q
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 10:00 am

    I wonder how all these magnetic fields are gonna effect the humans that are near them.

  4. Angstrom
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    affect the humans?
    it's the poor robots I worry about.

    I suppose they will have to do with jet-packs

  5. James
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    "I wonder how all these magnetic fields are gonna effect the humans that are near them."

    Not by much, if any at all. People are exposed to MRI machines and MagLev rail systems constantly without adverse reactions.

  6. Edward
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 1:02 pm

    Magnetic fields? If you want health concerns, what about being exposed to -140F liquid nitrogen?

  7. just a guy
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    Ha! It's funny how people get weirded out by science. Man, if you knew all the crazy types of fields, rays, waves, etc you were constantly being exposed to, you'd probably flip! :P

    THe announcer says at one point "Playful physicists." which made me chuckle. A tshirt that just said "Playful Physicist" would be cool.

  8. andy
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    HOVERBOARDS?

  9. Prairie Dog
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    Wow, I love the idea of sideways trains. However they never touched on how much load the train could bear. What sized material would be needed to float a passenger train that sort of thing.

    Perhaps someday we'll find a machine way to super-refrigerate, instead of relying on liquid nitrogen.

  10. AWOL
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    I'm not sure the explanation for this is quite correct-- superconductors don't "trap magnetic fields", they expel them, via something known as the Meissner effect.

    If a superconductor is placed in a magnetic field, electric currents will be induced in the superconductor to exactly counter the magnetic field created by the magnet, making the magnetic field inside the superconductor exactly zero.

    Since the induced magnetic field of the superconductor is at all times exactly countering the field of the magnet, an equal and opposite force is created, resulting in the levitation effect.

    This is also why the train can go around corners--as the magnetic field from the track changes (i.e, the track curves) the field in the superconductor changes to exactly counter it, and the train goes around in a circle.

  11. AWOL
    Jan 12th, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    I'm not sure the explanation for this is quite correct-- superconductors don't "trap magnetic fields", they expel them, via something known as the Meissner effect.

    If a superconductor is placed in a magnetic field, electric currents will be induced in the superconductor to exactly counter the magnetic field created by the magnet, making the magnetic field inside the superconductor exactly zero.

    As for the previous comment, there are actually "machine ways to super refridgerate"-- known as closed cycle refrigerators. By the cyclical condensation and condensation of helium gas, these cryo-coolers can achieve temperatures below that of liquid nitrogen, 77 kelvin (though not that of liquid helium, 4 kelvin)

    Since the induced magnetic field of the superconductor is at all times exactly countering the field of the magnet, an equal and opposite force is created, resulting in the levitation effect.

    This is also why the train can go around corners--as the magnetic field from the track changes (i.e, the track curves) the field in the superconductor changes to exactly counter it, and the train goes around in a circle.

  12. ted
    Jan 13th, 2008 at 12:50 am

    Boy, am I glad they explained it. I have a clear and complete understanding of it now.

    In other words, I still don't get it - something to do with magnets.

  13. Snappy
    Jan 13th, 2008 at 6:12 pm

    Magnets are God's tears.

  14. jiojasd
    Feb 4th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    that guy is a retard!!!!!

  15. Eywopwpi
    May 7th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    lu6hmY comment4 ,

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT

Neatorama Comment Policy
You don't have to register or login to comment, but it's easier if you do so. Comments aren't censored, but those that are abusive or off-topic may be edited or deleted.


Keep track of the comments with Comment RSS

Lijit Search

T-SHIRTS FROM THE NEATORAMA SHOP

WRITE YOUR OWN NEATORAMA POST
Got a neat story? Share it with the world by writing your very own Neatorama blog post with the Upcoming Queue. Who knows, you might just win something ...

Here's how to get started:
FAQ | Tips