What speeds could a maglev train reach in a vaccum?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential speeds that a maglev train could achieve in a vacuum, considering various theoretical conditions such as frictionlessness, weightlessness, and the properties of superconducting materials. Participants explore the implications of these conditions on speed limits and efficiency.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that in a perfectly frictionless and weightless environment with an infinitely long maglev rail, the train could potentially reach speeds of 0.6 to 0.8 times the speed of light, contingent on several ideal conditions.
  • Another participant questions the nature of a vacuum and proposes the idea of a "negative vacuum" that could influence the train's speed, indicating a curiosity about the physics involved.
  • A different participant notes that while current maglev trains have reached speeds of around 600 km/h, they speculate that in a vacuum, speeds could reach thousands of km/h, though they express uncertainty about the ultimate limits of efficiency.
  • One participant calculates a theoretical speed of approximately 15,700 mph (about 25,200 km/h), acknowledging the many assumptions involved in such a thought experiment.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of speculative ideas about potential speeds, but there is no consensus on specific limits or the feasibility of the conditions discussed. Multiple competing views remain regarding the implications of a vacuum and the nature of speed limits.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions that could affect the outcomes, such as the need for superconducting rails and the implications of gravity and friction. The discussion does not resolve these assumptions or their impact on the proposed speeds.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring theoretical physics, engineering concepts related to transportation technologies, and the implications of vacuum environments on motion.

Rebekah Barker
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What would happen?
 
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What are your thoughts? What do you think would happen and why?
 
I think you mean more than a vacuum.

If you had maglev in a frictionless environment (vacuum),
and weightless (no gravity to overcome),
and a perfectly straight and infinitely long maglev rail,
and infinite time and distance to accelerate in,
and superconducting rails so that the electric driving wave does not decay,
then the maglev vehicle could travel as fast as the EM electric wave travels in the rail. Something on the order of 0..6-0.8 times light speed.

Even with that long list, there are probably even more qualifiers that I didn't think of.
 
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Although I do not know how to calculate that right off the bat, I am curious about this question too. I am seeing a near frictionless environment when the train is in the vacuum. Can a vacuum in a finite space be thought of as a vector field which might influence the trains speed. Could there be a "negative vacuum" that could slow it down on demand?
 
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Drakkith said:
What are your thoughts? What do you think would happen and why?
Drakkith said:
What are your thoughts? What do you think would happen and why?
Well the top speed a maglev train has reached is around 600km/h so as there is near to no friction I think it could reach speeds of thousands of km/h. It would be extremely efficient but i don't think anything can 100% efficient. It would be able to reach extremely high speeds but I'm not sure what the limit would be. Yet it wouldn't be very convenient for a mode of transport haha.
 
I come up with ≈15,700 mph, which is ≈25,200 km/hr.

Many assumptions, of course.

Fun thought experiment! :smile:
 

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