Magnetic Levitation Vehicle Design

Purpose

If you have played with two magnets, you have felt the push and pull as you rotate the polarity of each magnet or as they snap together in your hand. Can you imagine riding in a vehicle powered by such energy? It is a very different way of thinking about how to move things. That is how some mass transit systems work, by the use of magnetism. This is called magnet levitation or mag lev for short.

One of the chief advantages of this mode of transportation is its energy efficiency. The vehicles are able to reach high speeds without a lot of fuel usage. The vehicles move along a guideway that helps to direct the path the vehicle will take. The magnet levitation vehicle works by using magnets of one polarity on the guideway and magnets of a different polarity are placed on the vehicle. Changing the polarity enables the vehicle’s speed to be controlled.

Equipment

  • Internet & resource materials
  • Mag Lev blank (width:2 ½”; length: 3 ½” – 6”)
  • 4 magnets (3/4” x 1”)
  • Engineer’s notebook
  • Pencil
  • Related Activity Sheets:
  • Mag Lev Sketches
  • Mag Lev Final Design Sheet

Procedure

In today's world, there is a need to have fast, cheap, efficient, and environmentally safe transportation to move masses of people. Presently, technologists are working on such a transportation system. The movement of a vehicle on a field of magnetism might be a feasible solution to solve this transportation need.

Technical Problem:

In this activity, you will design, fabricate, and test a model vehicle to run on a field of magnetism. This magnetic levitation vehicle is to run on a specific path. After brief research of magnetic levitation you will brainstorm and sketch several ideas for your vehicle. You will then choose a vehicle design and begin construction.

This magnetic levitation vehicle will run on the guideway provided. You will collect data on the elapsed time from one given point to another as well as the mass of the vehicle. From this data, you will compute the average velocity, compare it to others in your class, and determine if there are design revisions that may be made to make your vehicle improve its speed, and thus its efficiency.

Design requirements and constraints:

  • The vehicle will need to fit within the following dimensions:
  • Width – 2.5 inches
  • Length – 3.5 to 6.0 inches
  • Height –2 to 4 inches
  • The vehicle must include four magnets (3/4 x 1)
  • The vehicle may be made of any material including cardboard, paper, foam board, plastic, or wood.
  • The vehicle cannot be pushed nor can a slingshot effect be used on it to get it started.
  • No CO2 cartridges, compressed air, rocket engines, or model airplane engines may be used.
  • The system must operate free of human control or interference other than initial set-up.
  • The vehicle must be of a balanced design in order to levitate and glide.
  • The vehicle will use one motor with propeller for its propulsion.
  • The maximum mass of the vehicle must be 100 grams or 3 ½ ounces.
  • Your goal is to achieve the lowest elapsed time from start to finish.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2007

GTT – Design and Modeling Unit – Lesson 5 – Optional Activity 5.3 – Mag Lev Design – Page 1

Background: Keeping a communication satellite in its proper orbit or designing an automobile engine that is smooth and durable are typical tasks for technologists today. Each of these tasks required a thorough understanding of the principles of forces, motion, and energy.

Mag-Lev

  1. Looking at the diagram above, what keeps the platform suspended above the track?

______

______

______

______

  1. What could be done to give movement to this platform in order for it to travel down the track? ______
  1. When suspending the platform above the track, what would be important considerations to keep in mind? ______

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2007

GTT – Design and Modeling Unit – Lesson 5 – Optional Activity 5.3 – Mag Lev Design – Page 1

The following steps will guide you in your preparation for designing and creating the drawings needed in order for you to fabricate your mag lev vehicle in the Science of Technology Unit:

  1. You will need at least four thumbnail sketches of possible solutions to solve the mag lev problem.
  1. Choose the design solution to best meet the requirements. You may want to use a combination of designs for an optimum solution.
  1. Draw an orthographic drawing of your chosen solution with a pencil and get approval from teacher.
  1. Upon receiving approval, save your chosen design.
  1. You will fabricate and modify the design where necessary for optimal performance in the Science of Technology Unit.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2007

GTT – Design and Modeling Unit – Lesson 5 – Optional Activity 5.3 – Mag Lev Design – Page 1

  1. Using available resources research possible designson the internet for your mag lev vehicle. Pay attention to the profiles you find and the effect the profile has on the vehicle’s speed and drag.
  2. After you conclude your research, sketch 4 possible designs using the Thumbnail Sketch sheet provided on the next page. Remember, the overall length and width must fit on the Mag-Lev blank provided.

Research Notes about Magnetic Levitation:

______

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2007

GTT – Design and Modeling Unit – Lesson 5 – Optional Activity 5.3 – Mag Lev Design – Page 1

MAG LEV DESIGN SHEET

Use this sheet to create at least four different thumbnail sketches of different possible alternatives to solve the maglev problem.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2007

GTT – Design and Modeling Unit – Lesson 5 – Optional Activity 5.3 – Mag Lev Design – Page 1

Activity 5.3 – Mag Lev Orthographic Final Drawing

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2007

GTT – Design and Modeling Unit – Lesson 5 – Optional Activity 5.3 – Mag Lev Design – Page 1