Prologue

1.1 Introduction

As can be seen in in the title, this project is about a Maglev. Maglev is a short for ”Magnetic Levitation”. For this project, we’ll be making a Maglev train on a small scale. We chose this subject because one of us suggested this, after which some other suggestions came (such as a rocket or making a 3D-game). After we first looked at the options a rocket was no option. So now we had to choose between a 3D-game and a Maglev. After a while we chose the Maglev.

1.2 Research Questions

• Can we build an Maglev on scale?
• Hypothesis: Yes
• How does a magnetic levitation train work?
• A Maglev train is a train that moves through the use of magnetic fields. The train is being pushed and pulled by magnets simultaneously, which enables it to disregard gravity and keep itself in the air.
• How does an electromagnet work?
• Hypothesis: By winding the wire in a coil, and making the electrons move, you can cause the electrons around it to move along, which, due to their movements, create a magnetic field. If you reverse the electric flow, the magnetic poles are reversed as well.
• What effect does a piece of metal at the center of the coil have?
• Hypothesis: None. The electric field’s force is awakened due to the coil. A piece of metal should have no noticeable effect on it.
• What is better, connecting the electromagnets in series or parallel to each other?
• Hypothesis: Parallel, because we know that if you connect things in parallel, more power is delivered to them.
• Can we make a static magnet levitate using electromagnets?
• Hypothesis: Yes. By putting strong enough magnets with the proper poles on the right posi- tion, we should be able to make a static magnet float a bit.
• How much mass can we levitate?
• Hypothesis: On the big scale a lot of electromagnets will be able to lift a lot of weight. However on the small scale we use, it’d be only be able to lift a few hundreds grams, which should be enough for a magnet or even some kind of small train.
• Can we put this in motion?
• Hypothesis: Yes, by swapping the poles of electromagnets on the outside of the track we should be able to move a train/magnet.

1.3 Plan of Action

1. Find out what kind of coil would be best to make an electromagnet (big, small, many/few loops, thick/thin wire). We will likely have to adapt the properties of the electromagnets to be able to use them as optimally as possible.
2. Find out what the effect of placing a piece of metal at the center of a coil is (after a hint from Mr. T. van de Watering). If the effect is positive, we will have to figure out what kind of metal would be best to use.
3. Find out whether we should connect the coils in series or parallel.
4. Figure out a way to make a static magnet float with electromagnets and an alternating current. We need to find out what the most optimal position of the coils to keep the magnet floating would be.
5. Research how much mass our electromagnets can keep aloft. The calculations for this should be provided. We’re going to figure out how we can use the magnets as optimally as possible.
6. Try to get some kind of ”train” to move on a short track, using for example an Arduino. We’ll research what techniques are available to achieve this, and figure out what would be the most optimal.
7. Build a longer track. In case it’s too expensive to make what we have longer, we’ll have to research how to make better use of our materials.