The Effect of Voltage on the Maximum Velocity Achieved by a Magnetic Levitation Train on a Magnetic Levitation Track
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of voltage on the maximum velocity achieved by a train on a magnetic levitation track. This experiment demonstrates how changing the voltage running through the track affected the maximum velocity achieved by the train. Magnetic levitation is the future of transportation and this experiment could provide information on furthering research into the field of magnetic levitation.
This experiment is unique because a new propulsion system has been created by reverse engineering a rail gun. A magnetic levitation track was constructed along with a cart to run along the track. The propulsion system was a brass tube filled with alternating pieces of steel and wood that was mounted above the track. The tube ran through the solenoid on top of the cart. An electrical current that was adjusted between 15 and 30 volts was sent through the track to move the cart along the brass tube. The maximum velocity achieved by the cart was collected with a Vernier LabQuest and motion sensor.
The data was analyzed using a two-sample t test. The results were that changing voltage had no significant effect on the maximum velocity of the cart. The hypothesis that a solenoid supplied with 30 volts would reach a higher speed was rejected. The power supply held the current relatively constant which caused the strength of the solenoid to remain relatively constant and therefore maintain similar velocities at both voltage levels.
Research Conducted By:
Samuel Habbo-Gavin
Fraser High School
David Pokriefka
Warren Woods Tower High School
Warren Consolidated Schools