Comments on: Awesome Levitating Train

By: jiojasd

jiojasd — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 01:57:40 +0000

that guy is a retard!!!!!

By: Snappy

Snappy — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:12:07 +0000

Magnets are God’s tears.

By: ted

ted — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 05:50:38 +0000

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.

By: AWOL

AWOL — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 04:25:19 +0000

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.

By: AWOL

AWOL — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 04:21:02 +0000

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.

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.

By: Prairie Dog

Prairie Dog — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:47:58 +0000

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.

By: andy

andy — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:41:57 +0000

HOVERBOARDS?

By: just a guy

just a guy — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:52:48 +0000

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!

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

By: Edward

Edward — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:02:53 +0000

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

By: James

James — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:06:57 +0000

“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.

By: Angstrom

Angstrom — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:00:36 +0000

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

I suppose they will have to do with jet-packs

By: Q

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:00:36 +0000

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

By: Edward

Edward — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:53:35 +0000

Please allow me to be the first to say, “Cool!”

I also would like to say, “That was neat!”

By: Christophe

Christophe — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 12:56:03 +0000

The Lionel Chemistry Set!