Niles North High School

Link To Paper: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RoUW06at2eIXDwK9HF6iLc2aJg-2WO7w

Purpose: Diamagnetism is a property of all materials and opposes applied magnetic fields. Pyrolytic graphite is a strong diamagnetic material and can be stably levitated in an applied magnetic field by rare earth permanent magnets, such as neodymium magnets, at room temperature. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to design a train which can be levitated and propelled.

Procedure: A track, consisting of balsa wood and pyrolytic graphite, and a track, consisting of pine wood, baltic pine wood, and neodymium magnets, were constructed in a makeshift workstation. The train was placed on top of the magnets to discover if it would levitate.

Conclusion: The original train design, with pyrolytic graphite attached to the bottom, being repelled by neodymium magnets and levitating was not successful. However, the pyrolytic graphite alone was successful at levitation but not consistent propulsion. We believe the force from the lifter magnet was not strong enough to overcome the force of gravity and additional weight from the train itself. We also believe the current research accessible is insufficient for a train supported by diamagnetic levitation to exist.

Awards:

• Special Recognition in SIRS (May 2016)

• NGIC:PI Gallery Walk (April 2016)

• Silver Award Recipient, Regional Science Fair IJAS, Project Session (March 2016)