MagLEV Trains

Magnetically levitated (maglev) trains travel at speeds of up to 300 miles per hour. They achieve this speed in part because they do not touch the rails. These trains are lifted, propelled, and guided by magnetic forces, so there is no friction between the railcar and the track. Maglev trains are still in development, particularly in Germany, Japan, and the United States. Because of their cost, governmental support is required to develop the maglev trains.

Challenge:

You are your teammates are to design and construct a maglev train that will transport as many pennies (the load) as quickly as possible using the fewest possible magnets (cost).

Materials:

1 piece of train paper
glue gun
pennies
10 magnets
ruler/scale
2 wooden strips
1 small cup
1 ft. of string
1 balsa wood base 3x7
1 DC Motor
tape

Requirements

maglev train must be less that 12 inches long
maglev train must be no wider than the balsa wood base
transport as many pennies as quickly as possible using the fewest magnets

Report abuse