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What is the
history of magnetic levitation?
Magnetic levitation is related more
to the history of magnetism itself. It started in
ancient times in an area of asia minor known as
Magnesia. This region contained rocks that would
attract each other. These naturally occuring rocks
were named after the region and called
'magnets'.
Magnetite is a
natually occuring mineral that is permanently
magnetised and is also called a 'Load stone'
Reference: A Dictionary of Earth
Science
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The first
magnetically levitated train
system was developed in japan in
the 1970s. It was tested a few
years later and reached a speed
of around 300km/h. This train
used a system of superconducting
magnets on the train with the
rails acting as
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References:
Laffert, P. and Rowe, (ed) J.
Dictionary of science,2nd
Ed.(1999) Hutchinson ,
Helicon.
Giancoli, D.C. (1991)
Physics-principles with
applications.Prentice Hall
International Editions
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Using a strong magnetic field, mice have been levitated for hours at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. This experiment provides a valuable insight into how astronauts 
