Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My son wants to do this and I have not idea where to begin or what it looks like. He thinks that he knows, but he does not. I need help fast! Where can I get information on this topic. He says that it requires magnets. Thanks for your help.

I had the title incorrect.

Hello Tara,

I would like to help you, but I don't know what project you are doing. Could you please give me some more information on what it is. Thanks

Philip

Ms. Williamson,

I'm assuming you are refering to the Japanese research into Magnetic Levitation trains? MagLev is simple in concept, difficult to do in reality. One uses electromagntic force to lift a train off of any physical contact with the rail, eliminating rolling resistance, but not aerodynamic drag.

My favorite concept for maglev is the inductrac from Lawrence Livermore Labs right here in california:

http://www.llnl.gov/str/Post.html

http://www.skytran.net/press/sciam02.htm

A web search using the term "maglev" and "train" may yeild other good links:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=maglev+train

If your child would like to demonstrate magnetic levitation of this sort, the easiest way is to use an aluminum plate, cut into the size and shape of a circular saw blade mounted on a vertically oriented motor shaft and spun at high speed... then gently "place" a lightweight, high energy, magnet on its surface... actually it will float just off the surface of the spinning disk of aluminum:

http://www.oz.net/~coilgun/levitation/harddrive.htm

Thanks for all of the help with my son's science project. We finally got it together. He had his original design and the concept down, but this project was a little too advanced for a third grader. His dad was last minute help too and he is the science person in the family. Your information was very helpful and I am glad that I found this website. Next time we will have to write sooner.

Tara