Northport Middle School TechnologyMr. Presti

MagLev stands for Magnetic Levitation. Magnetic forces lift, propel and guide a

vehicle over a guideway. Utilizing special electrical power and control

systems. Uses electromagnets to push/pull train

along guideway.

Reduce need for additional highways in major urban areas.

Needed for rail capacity and airport expansion.

Very little maintenance. Very little friction Uses 30% less energy than conventional rail

systems.

High cost for initial start up. Noise caused by air disturbance can be

quite loud. Exposure to higher gravitational forces. Superconductor magnets need to be cooled

due to the large amount of resistance.

• Opposite attract, like poles repel.• North repels north, south attracts north.• Super fast electro-magnets switching poles

thousands of time per minute.• Propel the train as well as levitate it off the

track.

Current runs through a wire creates an electric field.

Guideway constantly changes magnetic fields.

North vs. South Polarity

German MagLev

The bottom of the train wraps around steel guide ways.

Japanese MagLev

The train levitates above railways nearly 4 inches from the ground.

Invented on Long Island in 1968 at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Used mostly in Europe and Asia. (Germany,China and Japan)

Can reach speeds up to 350mph (1999) Cities in U.S are researching methods to

utilize MagLev.

What are Propellers? A device which provides thrust for propulsion of a vehicle such

as an airplane, ship, or submarine though a fluid such as water or air, by rotating two or more twisted blades about a central shaft.

Propeller Pitch The theoretical travel of a propeller through one

revolution. Example: a 21" pitch propeller moves

approximately 21" per revolution.

Propeller Rake Rake in a propeller is the angle of the blade

forward or aft of the conventional position of 90 degrees or square with the propeller shaft.

Forward Rake

0 Rake

Aft Rake

Electricity Electricity is the flow or movement of

electrons. Electricity is the most common form of energy that is used. All atoms have electrons.

In order to produce electricity, a generator must be used in order to get electrons moving.

AC and DC Currents DC Current- Batteries, fuel cells, and solar

cells all use “Direct Current”. Current always flows in the same direction between those two terminals.

AC Current- The power that comes from a power plant is called “Alternating Current”. The direction of the current reverses, or alternates, 60 times per second. The power that is available at a wall socket in the United States is 120-volt, 60-cycle AC power.

Electricity Terminology

A great way to understand electricity is to relate electricity to water.

Volts- The volume of electrons that are moving. “Volts is equivalent to the water pressure”

Amp- The amount of electrons that are moving. “Amps is equal to the flow rate of water”

Resistance- The amount of electrons that pass through. “Resistance is equal to the pipe size”

Electricity Equation

There is a basic equation in electrical engineering that states how the three terms relate.

V=IR or I=V/R or R=V/I• V= Voltage (Volts)• I = Current (Amps)• R= Resistance (Ohms)

Question- A small circuit has a Current of 3 amps and a Resistance of 20 ohms. What is the Voltage?

• You will build and design a scale Maglev model.

• Your vehicle may be between 4 and 8 inches in length

• You MagLev car must be propelled by an electric motor connected to a propeller.

. You may use only 4 magnets.• Your vehicle will be graded on speed and

the completion of the portfolio.• Must be 100% levitating (No Sliding).

Project Grade #1

• Graphs – 20 Points• Sketches - 20 Points• Design Portfolio - 60 Points

Project Grade #2

• Construction/Innovation - 30 Points• Efficiency Score - 70 Points