Superconducting levitation and transportation

[Mackay1011]

Main Question or Discussion Point

Hey, think this post belongs in this section.

I've seen a few videos about superconducting levitation and it is used on trains, correct?

I was wondering if it is possible to levitate an object like a car and propel it forward?


Heres a clip, please dont delete :) watch it please :D

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=7459584142767298148&q=Superconducting+Levitation&total=21&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0 [Broken]

 

[mgb_phys]

One of the properties of superconductors is that they don't allow a magnetic field to pass through them - this is what allows a small piece of supercoductor to float above a magnet.

Even when superconductors are used in maglev trains they are used for a different reason. In the tracks are permanent magnets, in the train is a magnetic coil repelling these magnets, supercoductor magnets could be used here because it is possible to make a very large electromagnet with no loss of power due to heating. But because of the difficulty of cooling the supercoductor it may be cheaper to use a regular magnet and waste the heat.

It's certainly possible to levitate a car using a magnet - junkyard cranes do it all the time!