Maglev Train

Problem - I will be designing and building a functioning magnetic train. I will also test if the more or less magnets put onto the train will make the train go faster.

Hypothesis - I believe that I will be able to build the train and it will work properly and fully go through the copper wire and that the most magnets will make it travel faster.

Procedure -

1. Gather all required materials - copper wire, magnets, and a AAA battery.

2. Coil the copper wire

3. Build the train our of a battery and magnets.

4. Test the train in the copper wire.

5. Adjust any problems with the train (if needed)

6. Repeat step 4 (if step 5 is needed)

7. Test the train with different amounts of magnets

8. Repeat step 7 4 times for each amount of magnets.

Abstract -

Magnetic Train

Many years ago when the science fair first started for me I wanted to try this project but I decided to choose a different project. Now this year I decided to finally do this project. My project was to build a working magnetic train. I also wanted to test to see whether more magnets on the train would make the train move faster or slower. I predicted that the more magnets used would make it go faster because it would create a stronger magnetic field.

I started my project by coiling the 18 gauge copper wire which proved to be very difficult. Although, after the wire was coiled the train itself was made with a battery and a specific amount of magnets. Trying to get the actual train to work was very difficult as there were numerous problems. Some of these problems included magnets breaking, the coil not being wide enough, the coil bending/ not being straight enough for the train to pass through. Many of these problems were resolved but some of them are unfixable. After I had finished the building portion of my project I started to do the tests.

With the train I wanted to test if the train would move faster or slower with varying amounts of magnets attached to the battery. I tested 1 magnet, 2 magnets, 3 magnets, and 4 magnets. For 1 magnet it reached the end at an average of 1.58 seconds. 2 magnets resulted in an average 1.51 seconds. 3 magnets resulted in an average of 1.32 seconds. Finally, 4 magnets resulted in an average of 1.24 seconds.

I was successfully able to build the train although it does not work perfectly. Although I was able to successfully gain the data I needed. From my data I concluded that using 4 magnets on each side of the train would result in the train to move its fastest. My design could be improved by making the copper wire to be straighter and tighter so the train would not get caught on the wire as often.

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