Have you ever experimented with a couple of magnets? You
probably know that magnets have a north pole and a south
pole. When you bring the north pole of one magnet towards
the south pole of another magnet, what happens? These
opposite poles are attracted to one another and the magnets
come together. What happens when you bring the north pole of
one magnet towards the north pole of another magnet? This
time these like poles repel one another. Did you know that
this simple property of magnets is used to propel special
trains at speeds up to 300 miles per hour? Such trains are
known as magnetic levitation trains, usually shortened to
mag lev. In this WebQuest, you'll find out how magnetism,
and mag lev trains, may help solve some transportation
problems in the 21st century.
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Your job in this WebQuest is to find out how magnetic
levitation works and use this information to build a model
of a mag lev train. You will have to learn about permanent
magnets and electromagnets, about superconductors, and about
the different kinds of magnetic levitation. You will have to
decide which type of magnetic levitation you will be able to
work with, and identify the materials you will need to build
a model of a mag lev train. You will have to design the
model mag lev train, list the materials needed, and collect
those materials. Finally, you will build your model, test
it, and refine it as needed.
Once you have refined the design of your mag lev train
and retested, you will report your findings to the class.
Your report could be a written one with illustrations, an
oral one with photographs or transparencies for the overhead
projector, or you could videotape a test of your model and
show it to your classmates. If you prefer, you could bring
your model to school and demonstrate it for your classmates.
Whichever type of report you choose to do, be sure to
identify which type of magnetic levitation you decided to
use, and why. Reports also should include a description of
the steps you took to design, build, and test your model.
Look at the web sites given here to find the information
that will enable you to build a model of a magnetic
levitation train and test it.
- Cool
Experiments with Magnets
Visit this site to
find out all about magnetism, what types of magnets there
are, and how magnets are used. Scroll down and click on
levitating train experiment to see one way to make a model
of a mag lev train.
- How
Electromagnets Work
At this site you can find
out the basic idea behind electromagnets, and the
differences between electromagnets and permanent magnets.
This site shows you how to build electromagnets.
- Track
to the Future
Go to this site to find out how
permanent magnets can be used to provide
levitation.
- A
New Approach for Magnetically Levitating Trains and
Rockets
This is a site that describes using
special arrays of permanent magnets for levitation. It
includes directions for building a mag lev track and
vehicle.
- Magnetic
Levitation Vehicles
At this site you can find
out what kinds of mag lev trains are already in operation.
This site includes an activity in which you can design,
build, and test a mag lev transportation system.
- Simple
Maglev Train
Go to this site for some
directions for making your own mag lev train using
permanent magnets.
- Designing
and Testing "Maglev" Vehicles and Systems
Visit
this site to find out what kind of research is being done
on mag lev trains in the United States.
- Mag-Lev
Trains: Transportation into the 21st
Century
This is the site to find out just about
everything you want to know about magnetic levitation.
This site has a history of the process, descriptions of
the types of magnets used in levitation, and an
explanation of superconductors and why they are useful in
magnetic levitation.
1 class period for research; 1 class period to make
presentations or reports; time at home to build and test
model trains.
After you have completed your research on the Internet,
decide on the type of mag lev train model you want to build.
Design your model, list the materials needed, then collect
the materials and build your train. In order to test your
model, you will need to build a track as well. Which type of
magnets did you decide to use for your model? What are your
reasons for this choice? How easy is it to model a magnetic
levitation train? Remember, a model doesn't always work
exactly the same way as the real thing, so don't be
discouraged if your train doesn't stay on the track. Also,
be prepared to provide the initial energy needed to get your
model moving down the track. What energy is used to start a
real magnetic levitation train moving from a complete stop?
Once you have tested your model, prepare your report. The
types of reports listed above are not the only ones you can
use; be creative!
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In the process of completing this WebQuest, you've become
informed about magnetism, the differences between permanent
magnets and electromagnets, and how magnetic levitation
trains work in the real world. You have developed critical
thinking and problem-solving skills as you designed, built,
and tested a mag lev train of your own. Finally, you have
explored different ways of reporting your experimental
results, and prepared a report on your findings. How did
your design work? If you designed a mag lev model again,
what would you do differently? How did your model mag lev
train compare to a real mag lev train?
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