Magnets?

bcobbus · 22 Apr 2003, 07:10 (Ref:576172)

I was watching a program on TV about a high speed train in Germany that used magnets so it can hover above the track and run electrically very smoothly becuase of there being no friction.... "I'm sure their is more to it!"

What I am getting at here is, could in thoery, say an F1 team use magnets of the bottom of the car to create the opposite effect of that of the train mentioned above? Thus using the magents as a form of downforce or ground effect? Could a manetic field even be useful in this situation? I slept through my physics class, so could you all please let me know your thoughts on the matter? Yes I know it sounds wierd, but just a thought I had...

Thanks, BCOBBUS

imull · 22 Apr 2003, 11:53 (Ref:576354)

Yes it would. Most scalectrix cars haev magnets on them. The trrouble is that the earths natural magnetivity(is this a word?) would be nowhere near strong enough to work on its own. They would have to lay iron into the tracks...

Plus, what happens when you put two magnets (aranged so positive to positive pole) close together. They push each other away thus creating a safer race

Speck · 22 Apr 2003, 12:17 (Ref:576382)

MagLev trains are nothing new. China has a system up and running. It works by using magents both to keep the trains off the tracks and to propel it forward. The problem is that this type of train needs 2 very powerful magnets to operate. Add to that the fact that the magnets are also supercooled to improve efficiency. To use it on a race car, you need sufficiently strong magnets in the road as well, which I doubt the FIA will approve. The complexity of the system and its weight is also something to consider.

Armco Bender · 24 Apr 2003, 20:34 (Ref:579892)

The biggest problem would be when the magnetic car comes to the first corner,and.... goes straight ahead..........how would you steer it?,thats why the magnetic trains run on rails.

Warwick · 24 Apr 2003, 22:36 (Ref:579995)

Just saw a thing on discovery,record speed for a train was set by the French at 512kmh,thats a seriuosly fast train.

Armco Bender · 25 Apr 2003, 20:20 (Ref:580977)

No,magnetic cars just wouldn't look right.

bcobbus · 26 Apr 2003, 08:02 (Ref:581306)

Thanks to all who responded to my question....

Wayne Kerr · 26 Apr 2003, 11:25 (Ref:581391)

Peter Brock used magnets to improve his cars in Australia.

Smokey 6 litre · 27 Jun 2003, 12:11 (Ref:644673)

the cars couldn't be powered, unless it was in a hovercraft style!
it might work if down very long straits, Monza or Hockenheim, you used an electromagnet to lift the car, eliminating friction and just glide to the corner where you turn it off, the car returns to the ground and goes around the corner!

avsfan733 · 28 Jun 2003, 04:25 (Ref:645259)

the magnets have to act on something that they push against, the tracks in the case of the train, andsomething that would need to be imbedded in the road in this case

**GTRMagic** · 28 Jun 2003, 06:01 (Ref:645286)

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne Kerr
Peter Brock used magnets to improve his cars in Australia.

You forgot to tell them about the magical goop the magnets sat in and the aerial on the rear windown that was used for channeling the orgone energy

Armco Bender · 1 Jul 2003, 02:25 (Ref:647931)

Quote:

you used an electromagnet to lift the car,

The track would have to be a magnet,and the car an oppositely charged magnet to lift it and actually repel it along the track,thats how the magnetic trains work.But they also run on a rail to guide them around the corners,you would have to make each track into a giant 20 lane slot car track to run magnetic cars.
Magnetic propulsion is also one of the theories on how flying saucers fly too,which puts it right up there with Brockys negative ion generating thingys

.

**Dani Filth** · 1 Jul 2003, 08:36 (Ref:648091)

no .. you don't need magnets .. you need electromagnets ...

Ntrprise · 2 Jul 2003, 16:26 (Ref:649819)

The weight of this would be huge! Generally, this sort of technology is used for straight line speed and smoothness. I could not imagine this working on any form of track racing for normal sized cars, it surly would not corner!...interesting thought though!

JR Ewing · 2 Jul 2003, 16:31 (Ref:649822)

What if you're using a metalled road?

Rubinho · 7 Aug 2003, 12:39 (Ref:681989)

Rather than use magnets to suspend (or pull down the entire car) what about using opposing electromagnets as a springing medium rather than coil springs in the suspension? The driver could have complete electronic control over springing rates from the cockpit, there would be zero friction and (if it wasn't outlawed) could be used to implement active suspension by tweaking bump and rebound forces on the fly.

I suspect traditional dampers would still have to be used so there would be a mounting issue of the extra bulk involved.

I'm not sure that it would be practical though as generating the required electricity to maintain eight powerful, opposing magnetic fields at each corner would sap an enormous amount of engine power. Not to mention keeping the superconductors cool in the hot environment of a racing tub...

avsfan733 · 7 Aug 2003, 18:49 (Ref:682177)

At least in f1, that would be illegal as it would constitute an acive damper

tazzoid · 8 Aug 2003, 09:22 (Ref:682647)

Has anyone seen Terminator 3?

Electric current + magnet = electromagnetic field (if I'm not mistaken).

Electromagnetic field + circuitry = bad idea.

PenelopePitstop · 8 Aug 2003, 10:24 (Ref:682686)

What would Bridestone/Michelin think?

Rubinho · 10 Aug 2003, 18:08 (Ref:684369)

Back to magnets, did you see the article in the latest Race Tech magazine (Issue 49, p.54)? A bunch of Japanese scientists at their National Aerospace Lab are making a system where the wind tunnel models are supported and moved by magnetic levitation. This of course gets rid of the turbulent flow (and results skewing) effect of the support rods. Maybe that picture of Armco Bender's wasn't quite so outlandish!