P1_4 Super(conducting) Cars: Levitation

Abstract

 

This article considers using the phenomenon of the Meissner effect in superconductivity to levitate a vehicle above the ground. A model consisting of two parallel wires with opposing currents produces a magnetic field upon which the vehicle levitates. It was found that the power needed to keep the vehicle at 1.75m above the ground was 1.88TW, where 1.75m is the height which minimises the required power. This power is analogous to the overall electrical power consumption of the world, showing that this type of transportation is not feasible with our current technological achievements.