Stuff You Should Know SYSK Selects: How Maglev Trains Work
Feb 1, 2020
Discover the magnetic magic behind maglev trains, with fascinating insights on how they float above tracks and achieve incredible speeds. Explore the rise and fall of these futuristic transports, including historical mishaps and the challenges of modern implementation. Delve into comparisons with Elon Musk's Hyperloop and the potential for vacuum tube travel. Understand the environmental benefits of maglev technology and get a glimpse of future routes connecting major cities, all while contemplating the impact on urban living.
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Maglev Technology
- Maglev trains use magnets to float above a track, reducing friction.
- This allows for incredibly high speeds, with some reaching over 250 mph.
German Maglev System
- Germany's Transrapid uses electromagnetic suspension (EMS).
- This system uses attracting electromagnets, constantly adjusting the current to maintain levitation.
Japanese Maglev System
- Japan's maglev uses electrodynamic suspension (EDS) based on the Meissner effect.
- Supercooled superconductors create a magnetic field that levitates the train, offering inherent stability.