Magnetic Levitation In Slow Motion | BBC Earth Explore

Sam and Si catch up with Dr Kei Takashina from the University of Bath who shows us the science of magnetic levitation by freezing super-conductors. Similar techniques are producing hyper-speed bullet trains!

Special thanks to Dr Kei Takashina, Prof. Simon Bending and all the team from the University of Bath.

Slo Mo #43

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[East]

Dr. Takashina is a brave man pouring that cup of liquid nitrogen with his bare hands.

[TechLaboratories]

Fantastic footage guys once again!

On a said note, with regard to Maglev trains, similar principles are used, but electromagnets with shifting polarities rather than superconductors allow trains to float along the track, and a slight offset between the track and the cars push the train forward or backward, allowing it to change gain and lose speed along the track.

[leonardocruz]

Amazing I love this channel and I just subbed

[Dainjamouth]

That japanese dudes english accent is awesome

[MegaMementoMori]

I wonder can you do superconducting levitation in vacuum? In this way, if you construct a train, it would not suffer from either friction or air resistance!

[CastleGrown]

Everything sounded really educational until the fuckin geek blurts "that's witchcraft"

[ReinierSanders]

Does the superconductivity also work for the lateral forces?

[jacobr]

and we still don't have hover-boards?

[sureallifebouy]

What caused the shimmering under or between the styro box and the track?

[ebunny]

I couldnt help but notice the little globules of what I assume to be liquid nitrogen under the styro foam tank, trailing after and and almost keeping up to the tank during its forward and backward motion. could this be somehow attributed to the leidenfrost effect? and if so why would it be trailing after and maintaining its position under the styro?
During the slow motion fotoage it almost appears as if  the liquid nitrogen is gathering between the superconductor disks and the magnets.

[SuperZarrabal]

lol his marveled face! I would be the same

[freyguy]

FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A HUGE SLIDE USING THIS TECHNOLOGY PLEASE

[unknotmiguel]

OK this is cute but for sure we wont be using nitrogen forever to fuel this thing. Is there any way to make something super conductive using electricity or any other method ?

[Bazo]

Handles liquid nitrogen, wears no gloves O.O

[nathanduifhuis]

one thing i didn't expect to see were the sparks, I wonder why they were there i don't believe any electrons were exchanged

[TheRealSkeletor]

Not to sound the skeptic, but are we just supposed to take your (or his) word about all the "magnetic levitation" stuff going on here? How do we know the styrofoam block isn't just floating on the (boiling) liquid Nitrogen. 

I'm sorry, it's just not clear from the video.

[DavidBearon]

How to make a hover board mission complete

[vinayutubeaccount]

Handling liquid nitrogen without safety gloves is not a good idea!

[MrDriller]

Well, now you know how men who can't get girlfriends occupy their time 

[Isager]

Shouldn't he be wearing gloves while handling the liquid nitrogen?