Context:
China’s maglev train breaks 623 km/h speed record in ‘significant breakthrough
Maglev:
- Also called as magnetic levitation train or maglev train
- A floating vehicle for land transportation that is supported by either electromagnetic attraction or repulsion.
- Incorporates basic facts about magnetic forces—Like magnetic poles repel each other, and opposite magnetic poles attract each other—to lift, propel, and guide a vehicle over a track (or guideway).
- Maglev propulsion and levitation involves – The use of superconducting materials, electromagnets, diamagnets, and rare-earth magnets.
- The trains are capable of running about 10 cm above the ground because of magnetic levitation technology
- Maglev system has no wheels, axles, transmissions, and overhead wires.
How Maglev Works?
- Three types of loops are set into the guideway at specific intervals to do three important tasks:
- Loop 1 – Creates a field that makes the train hover about 5 inches above the guideway
- Loop 2 – Keeps the train stable and horizontal
- Loop 3 – A propulsion system runs by alternating current power.
- The front corners have magnets with north poles facing out, and the back corners have magnets with south poles outward.
- Electrifying the propulsion loops generates magnetic fields that both pull the train forward from the front and push it forward from behind.
- This floating magnet design creates a smooth trip.
- Only source of friction is air hence a rider experiences less turbulence than on traditional steel wheel trains.
Read more about: Super conductivity
Source: Hindustan Times
Previous Year Question
With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the following statements:
1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls.
2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
3. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Answer: (a)
Expalanation:
Statement 2 is not correct:
Blockchain operates through a decentralized platform requiring no central supervision, it is used in voting, banking, messaging app, internet advertising, etc. Hence, it is not restricted to cryptocurrency.
