Monthly Archives: April 2018

Maglev Train

Final Design Process Reflection

Luke P.

Members: Reese & Lorenzo

Our first group design was we had 2 short strip magnets on the sides of the track, 6 long magnet strips for the bottom of the track, 3 ring magnets separated around the inside of the track, 1 roll of tape for the track. For the train we had 4 little strip magnets around the outside of the train, 1 ring magnet in the middle of the train, 1 roll of tape and 2 north and south magnets.

The problem my group faced was that the train was attracting to the track. Than we noticed that we were putting some of the magnets on the wrong sides. So than my group decided we needed to check if the magnets were on the right sides with the north and south magnets.

Our final design was 2 long strip magnets on the bottom sides of the track, and 2 little strip magnets on the bottom sides of the train. This design worked because if the train and the track are lined up the same way it will levitate if they are on north and north or south and south and attract if it’s on south and north.

I was very nervous and very excited when making the train float. I was nervous because I was scared that the train was going to brake and we would need to start all over. I was excited because I just couldn’t wait till we got it to work.

Maglev Reflection

Final Design Process Reflection

By: Emma

Team members: Ryan, Luke I

For my first track design we put strip magnets as the track and for my vehicle design we put red magnets under the foam vehicle. We used 4 little strip magnets, 7 ring magnets, 7 disc magnets, 1 long strip magnet and 4 red magnets. We put the 4 little strip magnets on the bottom left, one long strip magnet on the other side, 4 red magnets under the foam vehicle, so it will levitate, 7 ring magnets on the right side and 7 disc magnets on the left.

One problem we faced was when the foam vehicle did not repel against the track. Instead the train stuck to the strip magnets on the track. It was very frustrating. The way we revised it was we lined up the track magnets to the magnets on the foam vehicle and it levitated.

When we did our final designs, we used 2 little magnets and 2 long strip magnet. We did not use the 7 ring magnets, the 7 disc magnets and the 2 little strip magnets. I think it worked because the track lined up with the foam vehicle. When they were arranged we put 2 long strip magnets as the track and 2 little magnets under the foam vehicle.

I felt happy in the beginning because I was so excited to start putting it together. I felt frustrated when our plan wasn’t working over and over again and it was really annoying when others plans were working. I felt proud because in the end we got it to work no matter how hard we tried it was worth it in the end.

Maglev Refection 1

By: Ryan

Group Members: Emma, Luke I

Our train had four red magnets and our track had 7 disc magnets and 7 ring magnets + 2 strip magnets, 1 long strip magnet and 4 little strip magnets and tape. We arranged them by putting the seven disc magnets on the right side and the ring magnets on the left side a long strip magnet on one side and the little strip magnets on the other side

One problem we faced was that the side the magnet went on for example if it attracted then it would not be able to levitate. We revised it from switching the sides of the magnets and we improved it from taping it down so the magnets would not move.

Our final design was to put one strip magnet on each side of the track. It worked because the track and the vehicle were perfectly lined up. We used two long strip magnets. They were arranged like this there were one strip magnet on each side. Our vehicle had two short strip magnets on it. We arranged it by putting one short strip magnet on one side of the vehicle and the other one on the other side.

One of my thoughts going through this progress was we can do it!! This is what caused me to have this thought it is when we start a different plan. Another thought I had was why did this not work? What caused me to have this thought was when the vehicle attracted to the track and it did not work. One of my feelings was excited that we did it. What caused me to have this feeling was when it worked so I got excited. Another feeling I had was frustrated. I felt frustrated because when our plan did not work it caused me to have this feeling.