per wire segment AB due the field created by the lower wire segment A'B':The picture below illustrates the direction of FAB, which is the green vector on the drawing labeled FB. FB is perpendicular to ray AB, and the vector B. FB is opposite in direction to Fg , and can balance out the force of gravity.Since there are four straight wires comprising each loop, there are four forces acting on the upper loop.Note that the currents in the two loops are traveling in the same direction, which provides a repulsive force. This force provides the lift, or levitating force for the vehicle.From this simple model we have explaned how levitating forces are created. We also can point out a few further considerations: This setup only addressed the vertical forces acting on the train and assumed that the train was horizontally stable. In reality, maglev trains need some means of horizontal stabilization to keep the train on the track, in a manner of speaking. In many maglev systems, the coil setup isn't quite the same as our model explained. The train carries one set of coils, and the track contains a flat conducting surface. The train's coils have a current flowing, but the track' conducting surface is completely passive. The moving train coils create a moving magnetic field. This changing magnetic field, or flux, induces eddy currents in the track's conducting surface. These induced currents then act like the track coil in the model we used. With this in mind, our model is still effective for calculations. Our model uses several approximations to make the mathematics more concise. One, in our first equation, we assumed that the segment AB was an infinitely long wire. This means that the calculation for B is not exact. Levitation by AttractionThis page deals with the systems involved in a Maglev train that use repulsion as the means for attraction.This is a cross section the Krauss-Maffei experimental vehicle and guideway.Thi...
