Context:
Mass transportation should be a major means of travel in this country because of the ever growing population, the overcrowding of our highways with automobiles, the growing pollution problems and the high cost of fuel to mention a few.

Magnetic levitation has been identified as a possible solution to this ever growing problem.  Maglev vehicles have proven to be fast, quiet, efficient, and pollution free.
 

Design Brief:
You and your partner are employed by an engineering firm which is competing with other firms for a contract from the state of Delaware to design a Magnetic Levitation vehicle which will travel from the city of Wilmington to Rehobeth.  You are required to designa prototype and build a working model that will win the contract for your company.

This working model must travel from the starting gate, point A, to the finish gate, point B.  Distance is approximately 16 feet.  Your  vehicle will be suspended with four magnets and the propulsion system can use wind power or electricity.
 

Criteria:
                  * One to two engineers per team
                  * Sketch thumbnails of Maglev vehicle ideas
                  * Draw a final Maglev vehicle
                  * Construct the Maglev vehicle
                  * Make practice runs and make any modifications
                  * Continue with daily Technology Log documenting your progress
 
 

Materials:
                   * Drawing paper                          * Wood or Foamcore(5" to 6")
                   * Magnets (4 - 3/4" X 1")            * Cardboard/paper
                   * Hot glue                                     * Masking tape
                   * Electric motor                           * Optional Material (sintra, masonite,
                   * 22ga.  wire                                                                     plastic, etc)
                   * Propeller                                   * Solder
 

Evaluation:
You will be graded in the following manner:

                  * Vehicle levitates and successfully moves down the track to the finishing
                    gate, point 'B', using wind or electricity as your source of power.
                  *  Vehicle design and appearance
                  * Final Maglev drawing
                  *  In paragraph form, describe how your magnetic levitation vehicle tested
                    and what would you have done differently to improve your prototype?