Can automobiles be propelled by magnets?

Question

Magnets have a magnetic field. If two large magnets are put in a car, and their magnetic fields repel, couldnt that energy be used some how to propel car? Obviously magnetic fields either attract or pull (push away). I would think that if the magnets were big enough, you could somehow use that energy and propel a car and it would have zero emmisions. Or I guess you could use a small motor to push the magnets back and forth to creat this energy. Does this make sense??

Answer 1

The basic flaw is thinking that magnetism is a free energy source. It's not. You'd just be using magnets as non-contact springs. Linear induction motors use magnetic fields to transfer energy from a power source to a vehicle, but they are not free energy.

Answer 2

Yes a magnet can move a Car, but only the distance of its magnetic field. Then what is moving the magnet?
A train in Japan is run on magnets. When the train approaches it is pulled by a magnet. Once the train is over the magnet if flips around pushing the train away. There are thousands of these magnets on the track. The same principal cannot be applied to a car however. Also allot of electricity is required to spin the magnets so it would not be powered on the magnets force only.
Even a DC motor is an efficient use of magnetism but i don't think it would work without the Electricity to push it along. Ya the more i think about it you definitely need electricity with the magnets.

Answer 3

While in theory it is plausible, (the Maglev train systems) it would be incredibly expensive and the size of the magnets to move the thousand of pounds necessary would be hard to find/create. Also remember that even this idea would have environmental effect, as most industrial material is magnetized using mined metals and electricity, which this electricity must be provided somehow, which means a powerplant of some sort, either coal or nuclear. And since you wont find enough natural permanent magnets of the appropriate size all the magnatized metals would lose their magnetic fields over time. So the magnets in the ground and on the cars would have to go through the process over and over again. using more resources.

also if magnets are propelling your car it would have to be in a predetermined direction so steering would be impossible.

The Maglev train system will be as close as we will ever get to this concept. read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev_train

Answer 4

If you back the car, with the magnet on the back, up against the other magnet and then release it, yes it can move forwards. However magnets strong enough to do this are usually electromagnets, which means that they require constant electric power, and this particular system would still only move the car a very short distance. A better system would be put the electromagnets in a line, turning each one on as the car approaches it and then reversing it just as the car's magnet passes overhead. This is called a 'mass driver', and is actually used for some purposes; I believe there may be some trains that use it. However, due to the wide array of traffic that has to go in many directions at once at any given time, using magnets for cars is not nearly as effective or reliable as using them for trains.

Answer 5

Sure. Except for the issue about magnets being so heavy. By the time you installed magnets large enough to propel a car weighing a ton or so, the car would weight two tons or so, and you'd be back where you started.

Answer 6

Yeah, the technology is being used in trains- it's called magnetic levitation or maglev for short. If you mean on-board magnets that are moved around to propel the car forward, this is not possibly. You'll use more energy than you save by moving the magnets.

Answer 7

In Santa Barbara, California (US), a large electrical cable was buried along the existing route of a local bus. A special bus chassis was prepared with a receptor.
A/C Current was provided to the cable, and its frequency was arranged to match the receptor. This induction motor could operate the bus.
My memory is that though a success, the impedance loss made this system questionable for general use.

Answer 8

Electric cars are propelled by magnets, electric motors are electromagnetic devices

Answer 9

this is obtainable to apply everlasting magnets for coupling shafts at the same time (transmit ability) yet to no longer furnish the ability to force the shafts (the ability is what motives them to rotate). this is like pulling a load with a rubber band. The rubber band isn't producing ability, purely transmitting a tension (or call it ability in case you will). besides the undeniable fact that electromagnets or a blend of electromagnets and everlasting magnets can furnish the reason tension for a generator. this is by skill of switching the electromagnets so the shaft can proceed to rotate, and that's observed as an electric powered motor. The motor and generator is often blended on the same shaft, making use of a few components in elementary. It desires electric powered ability from an exterior source. in the previous those have been used to offer diverse voltages, frequencies or tiers from a known furnish like a battery. everlasting magnets purely furnish table certain magnetic fields, so at the instant are not waiting to offer non-stop mechanical ability. in case you place 2 at the same time they're attracted or repelled, definitely, and can circulate yet you could desire to circulate them aside of at the same time by skill of making use of exterior tension so as that they are waiting for the subsequent step. no longer something is gained. they could desire to be located in a relative place to demonstrate a tension, and this includes storing the capability of putting them in the opposing container. this is style of a spring. sure it may force a sort of motor, like a spring motor, however the capability is stored by skill of winding the spring or positioning the magnets. this is fairly constrained in its usefulness. some appropriate examples i can think of of comprise magnetic latches, like on some cabinet doorways, magnetic in line shaft coupling, magnetic "gears" (parallel shaft coupling), magnetic springs and dampers, magnets shifting a swap or lever interior a housing from the exterior. a blend of electromagnets may well be switched on or off on the proper 2nd/place so the gadget can proceed working, for the two linear action (think of of maglev trains and catapults), or rotary action. those are automobiles that may force turbines. by the way this is obtainable for turbines to run with the rotor supported by skill of the magnetic container (somewhat of the bearings) while they upward thrust as much as hurry.

Answer 10

If they are part of electric motors, yes. ~