How to Make a Magnetic Levitating Train

The trains of tomorrow will be faster, quieter and smoother. Why? It's because they won't have to rely on fuel to propel them, rather the wave of the future is the MAGLEV, or magnetic levitating train. The fastest of these trains, in Japan, can go upwards of 350 miles per hour, as it speeds along its course, hovering above the tracks below.

Things You'll Need

• Small square ceramic magnets Cardboard Wood Permanent marker Duct tape (optional)

Instructions

1. Make sure all your magnets have the same pole exposed. Stack up your magnets. If they attract, then the poles are opposite, meaning all the tops of the magnets will be "like poles." Color the top of the first magnet on the stack with a marker. Remove it and repeat until all like poles have been marked.

2. Build your first foot of track by gluing or taping two rows of 16 magnets, each about five centimeters from the last, along the edges of a one-foot length of wood or cardboard. Try your best to keep the rows straight, and be sure to leave room on the outer edge for the guide rails.

3. Cut a piece of wood or cardboard into a 9 cm x 15 cm square. This will be your train car. Affix a magnet to each corner of the car, making sure that they each line up exactly with the magnets on your track. Be sure that the exposed side of each of the train's magnets repel the ones on the track.

4. Carefully secure a one-foot board to each side of your track to prevent the train car from flipping over or otherwise getting derailed. Make sure the sides of the guide rails are close enough to touch the sides of your train, but not so close that the car's progress becomes impeded.

5. Add more feet of track and guide rails until you have enough to take your homemade MAGLEV out for a spin. In order to propel the train forward, angle the track slightly downwards to allow the force of gravity to assist your train's progress as it continues to hover above the track like magic.

Tips & Warnings

• It might be wise to sand your guide rails in order to help keep friction to a minimum.

• Make sure that the magnets on your track are placed perfectly parallel, or your train may derail. Using a ruler to pre-draw lines could help avoid a nasty accident.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish