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Informationen zum Autor James D. Livingston is a former physicist at General Electric and lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Klappentext In this first-ever popular introduction to ¿maglev¿¿ the use of magnetic forces to overcome gravity and friction¿Livingston takes lay readers on a journey of discovery, from maglev nanotechnology to Chinese trains that travel at 250 mph without touching the tracks. He finds magic in ¿fighting friction by fighting gravity.¿ Zusammenfassung In this first-ever popular introduction to “maglev”— the use of magnetic forces to overcome gravity and friction—Livingston takes lay readers on a journey of discovery, from maglev nanotechnology to Chinese trains that travel at 250 mph without touching the tracks. He finds magic in “fighting friction by fighting gravity.”
List of contents
Contents Preface 1. Levity vs. Gravity 2. Gravitational and Magnetic Forces 3. Maglev-A Balance of Forces 4. Spinning the Levitron 5. Inducing Uplift 6. Flying Frogs 7. Super-Levitation 8. Feeding Back 9. In a Spin 10. The No- Spin Zone 11. Flying Trains 12. All Aboard! 13. Keeping It Up Sources and Suggested Readings Acknowledgments Index
Report
This book is an extensive compendium of everything you might want to know about levitation of things both animate and inanimate. James Livingston is a master of this genre in that he presents quite difficult concepts with humor, history, and detail while always maintaining technical accuracy.
-- Fred Fickett, Chief, NIST Magnetic Technology Division (Ret.)
A well-written, factual account of magnetic levitation and accompanying lore over the ages, Rising Force is a welcome addition to Livingston's previous books on magnetics.
-- Ralph Hollis, Research Professor, The Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University
No, MIT professor Livingston writes, the magnetically levitated island in Gulliver's Travels (or its homage in Avatar) is not possible...But while Jonathan Swift's version of levitation is science fiction, it and other cultural examples dot this accessible illustration of the physics that allow for real-life wonders like maglev trains.
-- Discover
Further proof that physics can be fun...Think of Peter Pan, David Copperfield, and Harry Potter. Livingston, a physicist and lecturer at MIT who writes songs about physics, looks at the historical fascination with levitation, both real and fake, and explores the use of magnetic forces to overcome gravity and friction in flying frogs, implanted heart pumps, and high-speed trains.
-- Jan Gardner Boston Globe
Giving a new meaning to literary suspense, physicist James Livingston devotes his book to the science of magnetic levitation. From laboratory demonstrations of floating magnets, flying frogs and suspended sumo wrestlers to the realities of urban maglev trains, he uncovers humanity's fascination with the magic of defying gravity, as well as the physics of magnetic fields and superconductivity.
-- Nature
General science and technology buffs will find this accessible book fascinating and might be tempted to try a little levitation themselves.
-- Publishers Weekly
If you thought magnetic levitation was mostly about flying trains, then read Rising Force. Former physicist at GE and lecturer at MIT, James D. Livingston can barely conceal his excitement, and dry sense of humor, as he takes his readers on a whistle-stop tour of everything "maglev."
-- Rebecca Pool Engineering & Technology
I can easily recommend this title. It's a good insight into an aspect of much of modern technology, with enough surrounding material to keep it entertaining to read.
-- Matt Chorley Popular Science
