Why does the floating train rise?
The word levitation means to rise up in the air. Maglev trains are designed to glide through the air. The front is curved so that the air slides over the train as it moves. This helps the train to move faster and reduces friction with the air.
How does a levitating train work?
In Maglev, superconducting magnets suspend a train car above a U-shaped concrete guideway. Like ordinary magnets, these magnets repel one another when matching poles face each other. Here, both magnetic attraction and repulsion are used to move the train car along the guideway.
What’s the speed of a magnetic levitating train?
The trains achieved speeds of over 250 mph (402 kph) on the test track (Luu, 2005). Japan also tested two series of their own designs, called the ML-500 and later the MLU. Their trains were able to exceed 300 mph (483 kph) (Luu, 2005). Transrapid on testing center in Germany near Bremen. Source: © Stahlkocher / CC BY-SA 3.0
Is it possible for maglev trains to go fast?
It may have the ability to go fast however. And due to the HUGE cost of maglev trains the only time they can make sense is if you need to go faster than the speed which conventional trains can operate.
Why are they trying to make trains go faster?
But train operators and companies are pushing for ever-greater speeds, and they have been trying out a range of innovative designs that they hope will make trains go super-fast and be ultra-comfortable at the same time. If trains could travel just in straight lines and without any dips, then high speeds would not be a big issue.
Are there any drawbacks to magnetic levitation?
The benefits of this method are that it is simpler to implement than Electrodynamic Suspension (discussed below), and that it maintains levitation at zero speed. The drawbacks are that the system is inherently unstable. At high speeds, it becomes difficult to maintain the correct distance between train and guideway.