The Use of Electricity and Magnetism in Transportation

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The use of electricity and magnetism in our future transportation has formed a subject of debate and research for many decades. As early as 1840s, the first linear motors were developed. A breakthrough in this technology was achieved in 1935 when the first practical linear motors were developed in Germany (Kirkland, 2007). Linear motors are important in enhancing magnetic levitation in modern high speed trains or what is referred to as Maglev trains. This essay will first analyze how the Maglev trains work and then explore how the concept can be applied for future transportation not only in trains but also in road systems.

Magnetic levitation has generated a lot of interest among many countries. In this system, electromagnets are used to create strong magnetic fields. The strong magnetic fields levitate the maglev trains above the track. This is in accordance to the magnetic principle which states that the like poles of a magnet repel each other while the unlike poles attract (Kirkland, 2007). The major components used in the maglev system include a source of power, guidance magnets and metal coils that run along the entire tracks.  The metal coils can be compared to the normal electric motors, except that in the case of maglev system, the motor is linear and extends the entire length of the tracks. Maglev trains are different from electric trains in that they do not have axles or wheels. In addition, they do not use motors for propulsion……………………………..Buy this paper here