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Magnetic levitation holds an object above its support by balancing gravity with magnetic forces. In a maglev train, magnets provide lift without wheel-to-rail contact, but separate systems guide the vehicle and propel it forward. The two main approaches—electromagnetic suspension (EMS) and electrodynamic suspension (EDS)—differ in how they create lift and whether they can do so while stationary.
How does magnetic levitation work?
Gravity pulls a train toward the ground. A maglev system counters that pull with magnetic forces between the vehicle and its guideway, keeping the vehicle separated from the surface that supports and guides it. That separation is levitation; it does not, by itself, make the train move forward.
A practical train must also remain stable: it cannot be allowed to drift sideways, close the gap until it touches the guideway, or rise too far from it. Maglev is therefore an engineered vehicle-and-guideway system, not a train freely floating above an ordinary track.
How do maglev trains float?
Maglev systems commonly use one of two suspension approaches. EMS uses magnetic attraction and active control; EDS uses currents induced in conductive guideway components as the vehicle moves. Their different physics affect how each handles the gap and low-speed operation.
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| Feature | Electromagnetic suspension (EMS) | Electrodynamic suspension (EDS) |
|---|---|---|
| How lift is created | Vehicle-mounted electromagnets attract a ferromagnetic guideway. | Moving vehicle magnets induce currents in conductive guideway elements; those currents create magnetic fields and forces. |
| Lift at a standstill | Can levitate at standstill. | Lift depends on relative motion, so it is not available in the same way at rest. |
| Gap management | Attraction is unstable without continual electronic adjustment using sensors and controls. | System-specific; the arrangement also creates stabilizing forces as motion induces currents. |
| Low-speed support | Standstill levitation is possible. | May use wheels or other supports while starting or stopping; the minimum speed depends on the system. |
| Guideway and onboard equipment | Vehicle electromagnets work with a ferromagnetic guideway. | Vehicle magnets work with conductive guideway elements. |
EMS: attraction controlled electronically
In electromagnetic suspension, onboard electromagnets pull toward a ferromagnetic rail or guideway. Because attraction can cause the gap to collapse or grow uncontrollably, sensors and an electronic control system continually adjust the magnetic force. Georgia Tech’s educational page gives about one-third inch as a typical EMS gap; that is an example from that source, not a universal specification.
EDS: lift from motion-induced currents
In electrodynamic suspension, magnets on the moving vehicle change the magnetic flux through conducting elements in the guideway. The induced currents generate magnetic fields that produce lift and stabilizing forces. Because those currents depend on relative movement, an EDS train may need wheels or another form of support at low speed. There is no single minimum speed that applies to every EDS system.
What keeps a maglev train from touching the track?
The magnetic forces and system controls maintain separation, while the guideway geometry and magnetic arrangement help keep the vehicle aligned. The details depend on the design: EMS actively adjusts an attractive force to manage the gap, while EDS uses motion-induced forces for lift and stability. A levitation gap is a design feature, not a guarantee that every maglev train uses the same distance.
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- VERSATILE APPLICATION: Perfect for maglev train science project kits, providing anisotropic magnetic levitation for 1/2 inch scale model trains
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For one superconducting maglev arrangement, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory explainer describes the train as hovering about five inches above its guideway. That figure describes the arrangement in the DOE article, not all maglev designs.
How does a maglev train move forward?
Levitation and propulsion are separate jobs. The DOE/Brookhaven description of a superconducting maglev system identifies guideway loops with distinct functions: some generate lift, others help maintain horizontal position, and AC-powered loops propel the car by pulling and pushing it magnetically. The guideway’s powered propulsion system is what drives the train forward; floating alone does not.
That system-level distinction also explains why “the train just repels the track” is an incomplete description. The superconducting arrangement described by DOE relies on the vehicle, guideway loops, and powered equipment working together.
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What superconducting magnets contribute
Superconducting magnets are part of the superconducting maglev arrangement described by DOE/Brookhaven. Its June 14, 2016 explainer says the magnets are cooled below 450 degrees Fahrenheit below zero and characterizes their magnetic field strength as up to 10 times that of ordinary electromagnets. Those figures describe the DOE article’s explanation of that arrangement, not every maglev train or magnet.
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What magnetic levitation changes—and what it does not
By removing wheel-to-rail contact in its levitated operating mode, maglev avoids that source of mechanical contact and friction. It does not eliminate resistance from the air: a fast train still has to push air out of its way. Less mechanical contact alone does not establish lower total energy use, lower operating or construction costs, higher capacity, or a better safety record. Those outcomes depend on the specific train and route, and cannot be inferred simply from the fact that it levitates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where maglev has been used
The DOE/Brookhaven explainer, dated June 14, 2016, says the first commercially operated high-speed superconducting maglev opened in Shanghai in 2004 and reports systems operating in Japan and South Korea at the time. Those are historical statements from that article, not a current 2026 inventory of routes or services.
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- Package Includes: this magnetic levitation train set includes a wooden block, a roll of single-pole monopolar magnetic tape, three acrylic track plates, and 1 set of assorted color marking tools; Assembly is straightforward, and the included pens allow for designs on the wooden train, creating a special item; Guidance is available if needed; Note: remember to remove the protective film from the acrylic plates
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- Engaging Scientific Exploration: this set encourages discovery of magnetic principles, including Earth's magnetic field, attraction and repulsion forces, objects attracted to magnets, temporary magnetism, and magnetic strength; Hands-on interaction helps users understand the behind magnetic levitation
Is every train with a linear motor a maglev train?
No. A linear motor can provide propulsion without levitating a vehicle. A train is maglev when magnetic forces support it away from its guideway; the propulsion method is a separate question. Do not classify a train as maglev solely because it uses a linear motor.
Can you demonstrate magnetic levitation at home or in class?
A superconductor-and-magnetic-track demonstration is a relevant hands-on example: a published classroom demonstration paper describes levitation and suspension of a superconductor over a magnetic track. That supports the idea of a demonstration kit as a category, but it does not establish that a particular retail kit is available or that it includes the necessary materials. Before choosing one, check its actual contents, seller, availability, and safe-handling requirements; a generic magnet toy may not demonstrate the mechanism described here.
Quick Recap
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy / Brookhaven National Laboratory, “How Maglev Works,” June 14, 2016
- Georgia Tech Physics Book, “Magnetic Levitation”
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