MagLev

{{EventLinksBox }}
 * active=yes
 * type=Physics
 * cat=Build
 * 2010thread=2010 (CoT)
 * 2011thread=2011 (Trial)
 * 2012thread=2012 (Trial}
 * 2013thread=2013
 * C Champion=Ward Melville High School (Trial)

MagLev is a Division C event being run in 2013. Students build a magnetically levitated (hence the name MagLev) car to run to a specified line. Teams must accurately predict the time their car will take, and also take a test that will account for approximately half of their score.

Originally called Car of Tomorrow, this event has been run as a Trial Event in New York and Wisconsin. It was run as a Division B Trial Event at the 2011 National Tournament and as a Division C Trial Event at the 2012 National Tournament. In 2012, New York ran the event as a Division C Trial Event under the full name Magnetic Levitation.

The official rules for the 2012 New York trial event can be found here.

Basics
Car-Competitors are required to build a vehicle. It must magnetically levitate (permanent, non-rare earth magnets) and move down a track on fans.

Prediction-With any given distance between 50.0 and 95.0 cm, in 1 cm increments, the competitor must predict run time of the vehicle.

Test-The other significant portion of this event is the test. The test counts for about half of the overall score. It covers a broad range of topics within the general field of magnetism from the physics related to magnets and magnetic fields to modern practical applications of magnets such as maglev vehicles.

Parts
Propellers-These should be modified to have a 45 degree angle from the motor. You also want long, straight, and large (surface area-wise) propellers to get the highest performance. The larger the diameter, the better the propulsion (to an extent, of course).

Motors-You want mostly high speed motors. They have to push air to move a car almost frictionlessly. High torque, therefore, is not as necessary as other events.

Chassis Base-This part needs to be light enough to not weigh back the motor yet strong enough to withstand countless impacts, vibrations, and motor kickback.

Chassis Tower-This part holds up the motor. It must be secured to the base in order for it to not fall off. It must withstand perpendicular pressure from the fans, must be low, and needs a low center of gravity so the car doesn't tip. But you do not want it too low, or else it will scrape the track.

Magnets-This is one of the most important parts of the car since it must have magnets in order to float. They must be permanent (neither electro nor rare earth magnets). For magnet placement, see Miscellaneous:Track.

Requirements/Qualifications/Parameters
Length-The car may not exceed 22 cm in length while not being below 15 cm in length.

Mass of Car-The mass of the car must be over 250 grams, although the higher it is the better as far as scoring.

Power-The car may have a battery no greater than 9 volts, or multiple batteries connected together that do not exceede a total of 9 volts, used to power motor(s) and propeller(s). Batteries cannot power anything else. This means you cannot have electromagnets.

Dowel-The car must have a dowel measuring 30 cm long with a 1/8" diameter attached vertically to the vehicle. It must be attached within 5 cm of the front of the vehicle. The dowel is counted in the total mass.

Magnets-See above.

Height-Height must be less than 20 cm tall, excluding the dowel, when non-levitated.

Width-The car must fit inside the track. That said, it is important to build your car with a small amount of "wiggle room" so that there is minimal drag between the car and the track. Furthermore, all of these tracks are, unfortunately, not the exact same size; the rules allow that the width may be 2mm more or less than the official track dimensions. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the car is built to have adjustable width, and this, if applied, is a major part of the construction process. The only true specification given is that no part of the vehicle, with the exception of the propellers, can extend outside the track at any given time.

Track-The track consists of two metal sides and a metal bottom. It has two magnet strips in the corners of the track. Refer to the following:





The car, therefore, must have magnets at its edges so that it can levitate on the track. The track must be longer than 4', with a mark at 4'. The inside width is between 2" and 3", and the top railing between 2 cm and 5 cm.

Start of the Track-The car should be started from a marked point on the track (the rules say where specifically). It is easiest to start the fans then have a pencil or the like blocking it from moving. Then, you should release the pencil just before starting the timer.

Target-The car should have a pillow or block of wood (that falls over, keeping the car from tipping) that is at the end that cushions the impact. The timer should stop as soon as this target is reached.

Competition Preparation
A significant part of scoring in this event is the run time prediction which, depending on the level of the competition, can be placement-determining. MagLev tracks can be somewhat expensive, so make sure to attempt to find one you can use before you buy your own. Many school technology classes have them, so it is not impossible that your school may already have a track. If you cannot get access to one, you should, then, go ahead and buy one if you can because they are a necessity for this event.

The first thing to do is to adjust your car so that it runs down the track as quickly as it can. To run well, the car needs to be balanced. This is accomplished by adding weight where necessary and by not overcrowding the device. One way to overcrowd is to have more than one motor arranged side-by-side. When this happens, if the device is slightly off weight, it may capsize and break. If your car is touching the edges of the track, it will need to be lubricated. You will need to experiment for yourself which lubricant is right for you.

Once your car runs both smoothly and swiftly down the track, it is time to actually test and time it. Test your vehicle running down the track, timing it, so you can begin to gather data with which you can make accurate predictions. It may be beneficial to derive a formula you can use to predict run time.

Make sure to record all of the data you collect. The rules require that you have both a graph and a table, and it is beneficial to your score to have the data on these match. Besides this, you really do need the data for the competition otherwise because, as stated before, the run time prediction can be a determining part of your overall score.

Pre-competition
Impound-You will need to impound your car, which must fit the parameters (see above). With the car, also impound any tools or materials you might need for any repairs to your car during competition, as some accidents may occur over the course of your two runs. Your graphs and tables must be impounded, as well.

Score
Vehicle Score-The vehicle score is total vehicle mass divided by the run time. Run Score-The run score is the team's best vehicle score divided by the highest vehicle score at the competition, multiplied by 50. Time Score-Prediction plays a big role in this event. It has a complicated formula. Check the rules for the specifics.

Final Score-The final score is the run score, time score, and exam score added together minus all penalties. The best possible final score is 110, and the high score wins.

Run Preparation
It is important to ensure that you have all required materials. Remember to bring several new batteries, a backup propeller, tape, super glue, a copy of the rules, and any other tools or parts that are needed specifically for your vehicle.

During The Run
Check before the run to ensure the polarities of your magnets are correct. Ask any questions or clarify anything you need to know before running. Remember, in this event, the MagLev track is only eight feet long, so the reaction time of the supervisor or timer will have an effect on time. Note that, if the timer is a bit delayed for every competing team, then it will solely come down to the speed of your vehicle.

The Test
The test itself is about 20 minutes long. Depending on how large the competition is, you will take it right before or after you test your car. If it is a larger tournament, you may have to pause your test to test your car.

Good luck!