MAG+LEV+TRAINS_FLOATING+LOCOMOTIVES

> Have you ever experimented with a couple of magnets? You probably know that magnets have a north pole and a south pole. When you bring the north pole of one magnet towards the south pole of another magnet, what happens? These opposite poles are attracted to one another and the magnets come together. What happens when you bring the north pole of one magnet towards the north pole of another magnet? This time these like poles repel one another. Did you know that this simple property of magnets is used to propel special trains at speeds up to 300 miles per hour? Such trains are known as magnetic levitation trains, usually shortened to mag lev. In this WebQuest, you’ll find out how magnetism, and mag lev trains, may help solve some transportation problems in the 21st century. > [|Top] > Your job in this WebQuest is to find out how magnetic levitation works and use this information to build a model of a mag lev train. You will have to learn about permanent magnets and electromagnets, about superconductors, and about the different kinds of magnetic levitation. You will have to decide which type of magnetic levitation you will be able to work with, and identify the materials you will need to build a model of a mag lev train. You will have to design the model mag lev train, list the materials needed, and collect those materials. Finally, you will build your model, test it, and refine it as needed. > Once you have refined the design of your mag lev train and retested, you will report your findings to the class. Your report could be a written one with illustrations, an oral one with photographs or transparencies for the overhead projector, or you could videotape a test of your model and show it to your classmates. If you prefer, you could bring your model to school and demonstrate it for your classmates. Whichever type of report you choose to do, be sure to identify which type of magnetic levitation you decided to use, and why. Reports also should include a description of the steps you took to design, build, and test your model. >> **Objectives** >> >> > [|Top] > Look at the web sites given here to find the information that will enable you to build a model of a magnetic levitation train and test it. >> Visit this site to find out all about magnetism, what types of magnets there are, and how magnets are used. Scroll down and click on levitating train experiment to see one way to make a model of a mag lev train. >> >> At this site you can find out the basic idea behind electromagnets, and the differences between electromagnets and permanent magnets. This site shows you how to build electromagnets. >> >> Go to this site to find out how permanent magnets can be used to provide levitation. >> >> This is a site that describes using special arrays of permanent magnets for levitation. It includes directions for building a mag lev track and vehicle. >> >> Go to this site for some directions for making your own mag lev train using permanent magnets. >> >> Visit this site to find out what kind of research is being done on mag lev trains in the United States. >>  [|Top] > 1 class period for research; 1 class period to make presentations or reports; time at home to build and test model trains. [|Top] > After you have completed your research on the Internet, decide on the type of mag lev train model you want to build. Design your model, list the materials needed, then collect the materials and build your train. In order to test your model, you will need to build a track as well. Which type of magnets did you decide to use for your model? What are your reasons for this choice? How easy is it to model a magnetic levitation train? Remember, a model doesn’t always work exactly the same way as the real thing, so don’t be discouraged if your train doesn’t stay on the track. Also, be prepared to provide the initial energy needed to get your model moving down the track. What energy is used to start a real magnetic levitation train moving from a complete stop? Once you have tested your model, prepare your report. The types of reports listed above are not the only ones you can use; be creative! > [|Top] In the process of completing this WebQuest, you’ve become informed about magnetism, the differences between permanent magnets and electromagnets, and how magnetic levitation trains work in the real world. You have developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills as you designed, built, and tested a mag lev train of your own. Finally, you have explored different ways of reporting your experimental results, and prepared a report on your findings. How did your design work? If you designed a mag lev model again, what would you do differently? How did your model mag lev train compare to a real mag lev train? [|Top] >> In this WebQuest, students do some Internet research on magnetic levitation and design, build, and test models of magnetic levitation trains. They learn about magnetism, permanent magnets, electromagnets, and superconductors, and discover how the property of magnetism can be used to propel vehicles along a track very quickly with little or no friction. Students also explore different types of magnetic levitation. After researching designs of model mag lev trains on the Internet, students choose one type for the design of their model mag lev trains, and then design, build, and test their model trains. Finally, students prepare a report of some kind to communicate the results of their tests. >> [|Top] >> Once students have completed their Internet research, they will design, build, and test model magnetic levitation trains. Students will prepare reports on their findings and share their results with their classmates. Reports may be in the form of written reports, oral reports, videotapes of a test run of a model, an actual test performed in the classroom, or any other creative form devised by the students and approved by the teacher. >> You may decide to have students work in small groups for this activity. Be sure that students in small groups assign specific tasks to each group member. >> [|Top] >> Students will use Internet links given to find out how magnetic levitation is used in transportation today. They will find out about magnetism, how permanent magnets and electromagnets differ, and why superconductors are needed in certain kinds of mag lev train systems. They will identify the two main types of mag lev systems in use at present – electromagnetic suspension (EMS) and electrodynamic suspension (EDS). The EDS system is presently in use in Japan. The EMS system is soon to be in use in Germany. Whatever mag lev system is used, the result is an extremely fast, smooth ride because the train literally floats above the track. >> All mag lev systems use the principles of magnetism and polarity to push and pull trains along their tracks. Students may need to provide the initial "push" to start their trains during testing. This "push" may be in the form of an electrical push, students physically pushing the model, or students pulling it along the track in some fashion. >> Students will also need to collect materials needed to build their models. You may decide to provide materials such as strong magnets, copper wire, batteries, large nails, magnetic strips, polystyrene blocks (the vehicles), duct tape, and glue. >> [|Top] >> 1 class period for Internet research; 1 class period for presentations; additional time at home to build and test models and prepare reports. >> [|Top] >> As students progress through the list of web sites, you may help them to focus on what they need to know in order to design and build a model mag lev train. Many of the Internet links listed have directions for building such vehicles, or ask questions of the students to help them come up with their own plans. Allow students to explore these sites and any others they find in the course of their research. Most students will decide to build a mag lev model based on permanent magnets. If any students wish to make and use electromagnets, you may provide additional classroom resources for this purpose. >> [|Top] >> Because students have been given the option of preparing different types of reports, your evaluation will be open-ended as well. You may want to use the following rubric to evaluate students’ reports on the testing of their model mag lev trains. >> //Mag Lev Trains: Floating Locomotives// >> || **//Presentation >> Rubric//** || **//Possible >> Points*//** || **//Self-//** >> **//Assessment//** || **//Teacher//** >> **//Assessment//** || >> || Topic was covered in depth || 10 ||  ||   || >> || Presentation was well planned and coherent || 10 ||  ||   || >> || Explanations and reasons were given for conclusions || 10 ||  ||   || >> || Communication aids were clear and useful || 10 ||  ||   || >> || Test shown was successful/clear explanation was given if test was unsuccessful || 10 ||  ||   || >> || **Total Possible Points** || **50** ||  ||   || >> *//Rate each category according to the following scale: Excellent – 9-10 points; Very Good – 7-8 points; Good – 5-6 points; Satisfactory – 3-4 points; Poor – 1-2 points; and Unsatisfactory – 0 points.// [|Top] >> Using information gathered from the Internet and materials they collect (or you provide), students should be able to design, build, and test models of mag lev trains. In the testing process, students should be able to identify the deficiencies of their models. Students should make conclusions as to whether magnetic levitation is a viable option for transportation needs in the future. >> [|Top] >> || || ||
 * An Internet WebQuest**
 * MAG LEV TRAINS: FLOATING LOCOMOTIVES**
 * Introduction**
 * Task**
 * Identify types of magnets and describe how they work.
 * Design and build a model magnetic levitation train.
 * Explain how magnetic levitation enables vehicles to move quickly with little need for additional power sources.
 * Resources**
 * **[|Cool Experiments with Magnets]**
 * [|**How Electromagnets Work**]
 * **[|Track to the Future]**
 * **[|A New Approach for Magnetically Levitating Trains and Rockets]**
 * [|**Simple Maglev Train**]
 * [|**Designing and Testing "Maglev" Vehicles and Systems**]
 * Time**
 * Process**
 * Conclusion**
 * || || **An Internet WebQuest**
 * MAG LEV TRAINS: FLOATING LOCOMOTIVES**
 * Introduction**
 * Task**
 * Resources**
 * Time**
 * Process**
 * Evaluation**
 * Conclusion**