Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We present an experimental, project-based approach to teaching classical electrodynamics through the construction and analysis of a scaled-down magnetic levitation train. Using flexible magnetic tape as a guideway, we demonstrate stable levitation and perform precise measurements of the vertical gap as a function of load. These experimental data are validated using an analytical force model derived from a dipole-layer approximation, which confirms the self-restoring vertical stability of the repulsive configuration. By bridging laboratory measurements with theoretical energy methods, students can extrapolate their scaled results to industrial parameters, successfully reproducing the passenger capacity of a full-scale commercial maglev vehicle. This project offers a tangible platform for applying core concepts such as magnetic field geometry, vector potentials, and Earnshaw’s theorem to a high-interest, real-world engineering challenge.
Source: European Journal of Physics
Language: English
Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,325
OpenAlex ID: W7213913723