Weekly Online Lesson Online Lesson Archive Grade Level: 7-12 Subject: Physical Science

Magnetic Levitation Train

Shanghai, China may be the world's first city to build a commercial magnetic levitation train. German consortium Transrapid is pursuing the contract to build the controversial "Maglev" high-speed train. Germany has invested decades of research and billions of dollars into developing Maglev technology, as has Japan, though the technology has yet to be put to commercial use.

Maglev uses powerful magnets to hold a train a few millimeters from the track and propel it with little noise or vibration. In an April time trial, a Japanese test Maglev set a speed record of 343 mph. Germany has its own test Maglev, which a delighted Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji rode in July.

Shanghai is expected to sign a contract with Transrapid as early as December, 2000 for a 20- to 25-mile line to the 1-year-old Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The venture could cost more than $1 billion.

This week's online lesson is about magnets, magnetism, and Maglev technology.

Maglev: A Physics Viewpoint

Begin this week's lesson by exploring the physics behind Maglev technology. For this visit the University of Texas at Austin and read Maglev: A Physics Viewpoint. Start with the Intro to Maglev and read about the basic principles that make this form of transportation possible.

If you feel you're pretty up-to-speed on your math and physics, continue on with Basic Physics and Physics of Floating Trains. Otherwise, skip to the Final Analysis and catch the summary. What are the four advantages of Maglev trains? What are the technical problems? What's the bottom line in terms of economics? Do the authors of this study support or oppose Maglev trains?

Canada Science and Technology Museum

If you're not (yet) a science whiz, you can learn more about the fundamental principles of magnets and magnetism at Canada's Science and Technology Museum. Go to the page called Background Information for Magnets and read each topic by either clicking on the links at the top or scrolling down the page. What are the "rules of magnetism" that make Maglev trains possible? What are some common household items that rely on magnets to work? Is the earth magnetic? How do we know?

Electricity and Magnetism

Time to put some of your magnet knowledge to work. Visit Molecular Expressions: Electricity and Magnetism and try out some of the interactive Java tutorials available. Start by clicking Magnetic Fields and Compass Orientation. When the tutorial loads, click the virtual switch on the experiment. Notice how the direction of the compass needle changes when the electrified wire creates a counteracting magnetic field. Try these other tutorials:

• How a Metal Detector Works
• Faraday's Electromagnetic Induction Experiment
• Another Faraday Experiment
• Magnetic Field Lines
• Attraction and Repulsion By Magnet Poles

These are all cool tutorials. Explore any others that sound interesting to you.

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