October 30, 2020

Yesterday Mr. Wagoner shared with me the video below. It is a great representation of what the final experiment will look like and the engineering and math that is involved in the creation process. From this video I learned that the “steam engine” travels around the track without any friction or motor. In this case, the liquid nitrogen is evaporating inside the model steam train creating the steaming effect. When the superconductor (material that conducts electric current without any resistance) is below 183 degrees Celsius which then at this state, it is able to trap magnetic fields causing the levitation and “precision control above the magnetic rail”. Reaching the transition temperature, “the superconductor traps the magnetic flux of the outer field”. Due to lack of traction, the steam engine moves until the liquid nitrogen is evaporated and the material is warmed up. More liquid nitrogen is added to recreate the process. I thought it was interesting how objects are placed on the track and due to the levitation, the steam engine is able to hover over them without being stopped.