Simplicatus Research and Development

MOSEM² Möbius Maglev Train presentations

Vegard Stornes Farstad — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:35 +0000

The maglev (magnetic levitation) superconducting train on a Möbius-shaped track from the MOSEM²project has been demonstrated in Warsaw, Paris, Oslo and other places.

Coming soon to a place near you! (if you invite us…)

SRD on social networks

Vegard Stornes Farstad — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:00:29 +0000

Read news and see videos of our products and activities on social networks:

SRD YouTube channel youtube.simplicatus.no

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SRD LinkedIn profile linkedin.simplicatus.no

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SRD Twitter profile twitter.simplicatus.no

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Simplicatus Research and Development

MOSEM Online Community

Vegard Stornes Farstad — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:30:40 +0000

The MOSEM project developed an online discussion forum at forum.mosem.no to support an online community of teachers, teacher trainers, physics educators and other people interested in promoting state-of-the-art philosophies and ideas for learning and teaching physics .

Our forum has mostly been used for coordinating the project among the project partners, but we have also seen a steady increase of traffic from teachers using forum.mosem.no in connection with the teacher seminars. Our aim is that the forum will continue to be used by teachers sharing experiences and materials based on the resources developed in the series of SUPERCOMET and MOSEM projects.

We hope the teachers attending our seminars and using our materials in schools will use the forum to provide feedback in order that we can work on future improvements.

SUPERCOMET Online Modules

Vegard Stornes Farstad — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:00:47 +0000

The SUPERCOMET and SUPERCOMET 2 projects developed a set of 9 online learning modules containing conceptual animations to enrich teaching and learning of magnetism, electric conduction, electromagnetic induction and superconductivity.

These qualitative animations make it possible to:

show the normally invisible magnetic and electric fields
have a look at the particle model for a metal lattice with variable electric field and temperatures
view experiments requiring superconductors and liquid nitrogen, normally not easily accessible at school

Being qualitative, they are not directly aimed at calculations and quantitative treatment of the subject, but it is possible in many cases to develop numeric problems based on the equations, data and relationships described in the modules. This is especially true for electrical conduction and relationships between flux and force (the Faraday effect among others).

NOTE: Some of the modules are still “work in progress”.

MOSEM² Möbius Maglev Train

Vegard Stornes Farstad — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:00:56 +0000

A world-first superconducting flux pinning demonstrator with a magnetically levitated train rotating about its own axis in three dimensions.

Möbius track for superconducting magnetically levitating train

As part of the MOSEM² project a group of students at Vestfold University College, Norway, has developed and produced a unique Möbius-shaped magnetic track for a superconducting levitating train. This is an extension of the High-Tech Kit from the MOSEM project, which contains a straight (linear) magnetic track for demonstration of two types of levitation; with the Meissner effect and with flux pinning.

The Möbius track employs the flux pinning phenomenon to keep the train “on track” while it zips around the track. The geometry of a Möbius band allows the train to keep going in circles while also turning around its own axis. A short explanation of how this works can be found on our exhibition poster.

This proves that levitation with flux pinning is highly stable and different from magnetic levitation by simple magnetic repulsion using electromagnets (used by commercial full-size levitating trains) or permanent magnets (used by some model trains) that can only work on a horizontal track.

We believe this model demonstrates a completely new concept that inspires a vision for the future of transportation.

See our video on YouTube of the Möbius track and train

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Contact Simplicatus Research and Development to discuss custom development

MOSEM² Teacher Guide (printed)

Vegard Stornes Farstad — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:00:10 +0000

You can order the printed version of the MOSEM² Teacher Guide in English (ISBN 978-82-8130-058-3) here. Quantitative activities cover the topics of magnetism, electric conduction and electromagnetic induction using modelling, simulations and data acquisition experiments.

The MOSEM² Teacher Guide has 144 pages and contains descriptions of 15 activities building on MOSEM experiments and SUPERCOMET animations, as well as an extensive chapter with a quantum-mechanical explanation of superconductivity.

PLEASE REGISTER IN THE MOSEM Online Community TO BE INFORMED WHEN THIS PRODUCT WILL BE AVAILABLE.

MOSEM High-Tech Kit

Vegard Stornes Farstad — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:00:26 +0000

The “High-Tech Kit” developed in the MOSEM Project contains selected equipment and materials for performing a number of experiments with superconductivity and second-order phase changes. Both materials and experiments are described in details further in the MOSEM Teacher Guide, and the MOSEM Teacher Seminar goes into detail about how to use the experiments in Minds-On teaching and learning of superconductivity at the upper secondary school level.

The kit weighs about 20 kg and consists of the following main parts:

Hard-case trolley with wheels, telescope handle, 5 locks and keys
Two foam trays with instruments, magnets and equipment
Box with small items, including superconductors

: MOSEM High-Tech Kit

High-Tech Kit parts

The High-Tech Kit contains a total of 104 parts, and the list of contents identifies which experiment(s) each part is used for.

Commercial version(s)

Based on the testing and evaluation of the prototype High-Tech Kit, one or more commercial versions will be developed. If you are interested in purchasing our equipment, or wish to have a special version developed for you, please contact Simplicatus Research and Development.

PLEASE REGISTER IN THE MOSEM Online Community TO BE INFORMED WHEN THIS PRODUCT WILL BE AVAILABLE.

MOSEM Low-Tech Kit

Vegard Stornes Farstad — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:00:44 +0000

The prototype “Low-Tech Kit” developed in the MOSEM Project contains a large collection of equipment and materials for performing many different experiments with electricity, magnetism and electromagnetic induction. Both materials and experiments are described in details further in the MOSEM Teacher Guide, and the MOSEM Teacher Seminar explains in more detail how these experiments can be used to promote Minds-On teaching and learning of magnetism, electrical conduction and electromagnetic induction at the upper secondary school level.

: MOSEM Low-tech Kit exterior

The kit weighs about 23 kg and consists of the following main parts:

Trolley with wheels, telescope handle, lock and keys
Two upper trays with inclined plane, experiment table and other parts
A main compartment with equipment, tools, tubes, magnets and 3 boxes
Box with small non-magnetic items
Small box with strong magnets, etc
Small box with wires, etc

The trolley has a 7 year warranty. We have found that the telescope handle can break if you use it to lift the trolley. Please use the built-in handles on the top and the side to carry the trolley.

: MOSEM Low-tech Kit contents

Low-Tech Kit parts

The Low-Tech Kit contains a total of 374 parts, and the list of contents uses a combination of letters and numbers to identify each item. The letter indicates which part of the kit the item is located in, and the items in the same location are then numbered.

Commercial version(s)

Based on the testing and evaluation of the prototype Low-Tech Kit, one or more commercial versions will be developed. If you are interested in purchasing our equipment, or wish to have a special version developed for you, please contact Simplicatus Research and Development.

PLEASE REGISTER IN THE MOSEM Online Community TO BE INFORMED WHEN THIS PRODUCT WILL BE AVAILABLE.

MOSEM Teacher Guide – Norwegian (printed)

Vegard Stornes Farstad — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:00:23 +0000

You can order the printed version of the MOSEM Teacher Guide in Norwegian (ISBN 978-82-8130-057-6) here. It has 224 pages and contains descriptions of 74 qualitative/conceptual experiments/activities with the Low-Tech Kit, where relevant showing how to combine experiments and online animations.

It also contains a description of a few relevant teaching methods, and a discussion of relevant research and literature regarding physics learning in Norway. There is also a chapter on the results of testing these methods and experiments in a school, with feedback from students and teachers.

PLEASE REGISTER IN THE MOSEM Online Community TO BE INFORMED WHEN THIS PRODUCT WILL BE AVAILABLE.

MOSEM Teacher Guide (printed)

Vegard Stornes Farstad — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:00:35 +0000

You can order the printed version of the MOSEM Teacher Guide 2nd ed. in English (ISBN 978-82-8130-059-0) here. It has 160 pages and contains descriptions of 68 qualitative/conceptual experiments/activities with the High-Tech and Low-Tech Kits, as well as some teaching methods for Minds-On learning of electric conduction, magnetism, electromagnetic induction and superconductivity with a combinations of experiments and online animations.

PLEASE REGISTER IN THE MOSEM Online Community TO BE INFORMED WHEN THIS PRODUCT WILL BE AVAILABLE.