Can someone explain me the principle of magnetic levitation in this YouTube video?

[protiy78]

Can someone explain me the principle of magnetic levitation in this YouTube video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLIU1i0-FlM&t=4s

[Miss Maglev]

Can someone explain me the principle of magnetic levitation in this YouTube video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLIU1i0-FlM&t=4s

The key words are: superconducting materials and Meissner effect.

A superconductor is a material that, at extremely low temperatures, completely loses its electrical resistance. Normally, in conductive materials like copper or aluminum, there is some resistance that causes energy to be lost as heat when electrical current flows.

In a superconductor, however, electrons can flow through the material without any resistance. This happens due to a phenomenon known as Cooper pairing. In this state, electrons do not behave as individual particles anymore; instead, they pair up and move as a unit through the material's lattice. This pairing and the resulting coherent motion prevent scattering processes that would normally cause resistance.

One fascinating aspect of superconductors is the Meissner effect, where a superconductor will expel a magnetic field from its interior when it transitions into the superconducting state. This makes it possible for a magnet to levitate above a superconductor, which is interesting for many technological applications.

A notable application of this effect is in Maglev (magnetic levitation) trains. These trains use powerful superconducting magnets to levitate above the tracks, eliminating friction and allowing for incredibly smooth and fast travel. Maglev trains can achieve very high speeds because they don’t have the friction that conventional trains have with their tracks, making them a promising technology for future high-speed transportation.

However, the practical use of superconductors is currently limited by the need for extremely low temperatures. Ongoing research aims to find materials that become superconducting at higher temperatures, which would significantly expand their use in a variety of technologies, such as lossless power lines, powerful magnets for medical imaging (MRI), and even in future computer technologies.