MAGNETIC
LEVITATION
TO
REDUCE POLLUTION?
The noise pollution caused by a maglev
vehicle is minimum when compared to
other highway vehicles since they are
very much quieter.
A
are fixed in the bottom of the vehicle which allows the vehicle to
levitate a few centimeters above the guideway. The coils which
are positioned within the guideway walls are supplied with a
constantly alternating electric current, which changes the polarity of the magnetized coils, causing the magnetic fields in front
and behind to pull and push the vehicle along the guideway.
black cloud of exhaust fumes spewed by a line of
vehicles moving along a road is not at all a pleasant
sight neither to the eyes nor to a conscious mind. Air
pollution, which has become one of the most critical
problems nowadays, causes numerous ecological complications,
especially in urban areas around the world. There are dozens of
ways in which pollutants are added to the atmosphere. However,
transportation has become a major pollution contributor, providing more than half of the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides,
along with a considerable amount of hydrocarbons emitted into
the air.
The advancing “maglev” technology can be deemed a better
solution for reducing air pollution caused by passenger vehicles.
Magnetic levitation is a process by which an object can be
suspended using the force created by a magnetic field restraining all sorts of accelerations including gravity. It uses the basic
properties of a magnet: the natural repulsion between the poles
of the same kind and the attraction between the poles of opposite kinds. Controlling this repulsion and attraction in a way in
which a vehicle can be levitated without any form of solid or
mechanical support laid the foundation for the maglev technology to emerge. Maglev vehicles seem to be revolutionizing the
modern transportation with a multiplicity of advantages suiting
the needs of today’s fast-paced society.
A maglev vehicle travels along a guideway, which is a magnetized
coil running along the track. This repels the large magnets which
34
Gauge Newsletter
University of Peradeniya
Source: www.bubblejam.net
The fundamental form of energy which is used by maglev
vehicles is the electrical energy. The required magnetic fields are
hence generated by the supplied electricity and the strength of
the magnetic field depends basically on the amount of energy
supplied. This energy can be produced via the wind or solar
power, without burning fossil fuels, thus reducing the emission