Maglevs are very interesting and complex trains that are still being developed.  The most famous maglev today is in Shanghai, China.  This maglev uses electromagnets instead of rare earth magnets, which are what I am using.  These electromagnets allow the maglev to levitate only a few millimeters off the ground.  Because this train levitates, there is virtually no friction.  With very little friction, the maglev can travel at high speeds.  The average speed of China’s maglev is  520 miles per hour.

The reason why maglevs levitate is because they use magnetic repulsion.  Magnetic repulsion occurs when you take two magnets with the same pole and try to push them together.  When you try this, the two magnets repel eachother and make it difficult to touch them together.  Maglevs use this same concept.

Maglevs take the magnets with the same poles facing upwards and attach them to a track.  They also take magnet with the same poles facing up as the track and attach them the bottom of the engine and cars.  When the track and the train try to come in contact with eachother, they repel eachother.  This repulsion causes the train to levitate.

An actual maglev overlaps the track.  This allows the train to stay on the track and to stay under control.  Without it overlapping, the maglev would “derail” and fly off the tracks.  Because a maglev travels at such high speeds, a “derail” would take many lives.  This is also a safety procaution.

Based on the track used by the Chinese maglev, I have come up with two different tracks.  Because the maglev’s tracks overlap, I decided to construct a track that also overlaps.  However, the maglev overlaps the track, while my track will overlap the train.  My second track will not overlap.  The track will look like a hollow three-dimensional rectangle with it’s top cut off.  There will be magnets lining the sides of the train and it’s underside.  The sides and floor of the track will also be lined with magnets.