Science Fair Report



Pilot Butte School

Magnetic Levitating Trains









By: Jarrett W


This project is about magnetic levitating trains.  I did this project because it shows how weather will affect the performance of the way a magnetic train and if it will go faster in warm or cold conditions.  Magnetic trains run by magnets repelling each other. This makes these trains go a lot faster than any other train. The magnets they use are very special and also they have coils of metal wire underneath the train and within the guide walls to help repel the magnets. The tracks are also lined with wire coils.  The superconducting electromagnets create electro currents which make the coils magnetic.  As the train moves along the magnets, electric currents are created within the wire coils. 

A bit of information on magnets is that they have positive and negative sides to them or you could say they have a north and south pole.  When these magnets are placed together with the south poles and the north poles together they will connect together and create no space between these magnets.  If the magnets are placed together with both same poles you will have the magnets repelling one another.                                   

Maglev trains are the world’s fastest trains.  They can get up to a speed of 550 km/h (342mph). Each car ways about32, 000kg (70,500lbs)! Maglev works by repulsive forces. Repulsion is a property of magnetism. The repelling of the magnets makes the train float. Maglev trains run on electricity from nearby power plants which are fed through magnetic coils. The coils are a part of the motor that moves the train by adding magnetic forces to propel the train. Electromagnets in the front of the train pull it forward. At the same time as this the electromagnets in the back of the train push. To propel the maglev forward, an alternate current of electricity flows through coils in the guide-way walls. The current cause each coil to change its polarity (N to S; S to N) as train magnet passes. When the train and guide magnets line up N-S or S-N, the result is attraction or pull forward. When the magnets line up N-N or S-S, the result is a push forward. All that pushing and pulling makes maglev’s fly.  With of type of energy supply these trains do not need to any types of fuel like coal, or organic compost thus making the environment clean.


Does different temperature affect the way a magnetic levitating train runs?


 I think the temperature will not affect the way the train runs or work. 


1.   Build a magnetic train out of two lengths of wood about 24 inches in length.

2.   Build a magnetic track is made with 11 1” by 2” magnets.

3.   Build walls on the track to hold train in place with plexiglass cut to size of the wood.

4.   Cut plexiglass to size to hold magnetics in bottom of wood using screws to hold plexiglass in place.

5.   Cut a block of wood shaped like a train and paint it. In bottom of wood cut out some wood to insert 3 magnets. Using a 7” piece of plexiglass cut to size of train and hot glue onto bottom of train to hold magnets in place.

6.   Make sure the magnets repel each other for this to work.

7.   Put train with magnets outside at minus 25 for an hour and a half.

8.   Test the test train to see how it works by placing inside plexiglass walls a gently push forward.

9.   Repeat at room temperature to test it to see how it works.

10.Then you are done experiment and record results.



·       Wood

·       Magnets

·       Plexiglass

·        Screws

·       Nails

·       Hot glue

·       Hot glue gun

·       Paint

·       Paint brushes



             Plus 20 degrees Celsius room temperature observations.


     Train levitates very well at room temperature and also floats.

In between the magnets from the force there is a gap of 2.5 cm. It

flows very easy from side to side with very little help due to the

small walls. Due to these small walls it does need some help to be



              Minus 25 degrees Celsius cold temperature observations.


     Outside at minus 25 for 1 hour and a half.  It flows faster and

rougher, but also easier at times. The gap between the magnets is

 2 cm big. Does not need any help to slide a long track.



Yes, weather does affect the way a magnetic levitating train

runs. It affects it because it moves faster and a tiny bit rougher

but does not need any help to steady it. When the magnets are

cold the gap between is smaller. Takes less effort to move and

runs easier at times.



     In conclusion weather does affect the way a magnetic train

levitates. Temperature affects a magnetic levitating train

because when it’s  cold it runs a lot faster, the magnets ride closer together and with less effort to move ahead.  The result in the end is temperature does affect how the train runs. Japan right now has developed a super-cooled superconducting electromagnetic train. These magnets can conduct electricity even after the power supply has been shut off.  By also chilling these coils to a frigid temperature that are connected to the tracks and magnets Japan has manage to save energy.  This result could tell people where the best place is to set up levitating trains.

This train is a great transportation method. This will run year

 round and will be great for the economy and will

 get you where you need to go even faster than ever.

 It will run better in cold climates because it runs faster and

smoother in cold weather. It takes less effort and does not

produce  CO2. This will help lots of people because they can ride

this train and not drive their car, which will save the planet.




I would like to thank my mom for revising and assisting with my

report when I had trouble.  I would like thank my dad for helping

me build the levitating train and for taking me shopping to

 purchase what I needed for my experiment.  I would also

like to thank my Oxford teacher for helping me revise my report.






I learned that magnetic levitating train will work in any weather,

 But work better in cold weather because it goes faster. They will

 be more environmentally friendly because they can use

 Electricity instead of fuel. They can get free electricity from

 solar, wind or water.  They can transport people way faster than

 any train has ever done without harming environment. If the  

governments hear about these trains maybe they will bring them

to lots of other countries and will get more fuel guzzling vehicles

 off the roads.  We will have cleaner air to breath.











            Feb 3, 2010  Feb. 4, 2010 Feb 4, 2010 4, 2010   Feb.-22-10