Superconductivity
While researching the effects of temperature on the conductivity of metal, Onnes discovered an unusual phenomenon. When he cooled mercury to 4 degrees above absolute zero, he noticed that all electrical resistance seized to exist. The metal could conduct electricity without any loss due to resistance and could levitate on a permanent magnet. He called this ‘Superconductivity’. Also, when the solid mercury started to warm up, he also noticed that the superconductive property vanished and that it now behaved similarly to other conductive substances. This phenomenon puzzled him and other physicists.
Other physicists soon started to find other materials that are superconductive at higher temperatures as most superconductive materials found needed to be cooled to near to absolute zero and could lose their state when exposed to a large magnetic field of electricity. Modern superconductors, such as niobium-titanium fixes some of the setbacks but still needs to be cooled down to low temperatures. This metal is currently used in proton accelerators and MRI machines and is planned to be involved in highly efficient power generation and methods to store energy.
Super conductors have the intriguing ability to be able to float above a permanent magnet as electrical energy and magnetic force are like two sides of a coin. A strong magnetic field can produce electricity. In substances that do not have superconductive properties, the resistance of the object negates the electric field. When a superconductive substance is placed above the magnet, unlike a non-superconductive object, the electric field produces an opposing magnetic field from the superconductive object thus it appears to levitate above the permanent magnet. Many scientists are trying to find a compound element that has superconductive abilities at room temperature to reduce traction between trains and their tracks to form a more efficient way of transport.
Super conductors have the intriguing ability to be able to float above a permanent magnet as electrical energy and magnetic force are like two sides of a coin. A strong magnetic field can produce electricity. In substances that do not have superconductive properties, the resistance of the object negates the electric field. When a superconductive substance is placed above the magnet, unlike a non-superconductive object, the electric field produces an opposing magnetic field from the superconductive object thus it appears to levitate above the permanent magnet. Many scientists are trying to find a compound element that has superconductive abilities at room temperature to reduce traction between trains and their tracks to form a more efficient way of transport.
Power is delivered to homes via a network of copper cables. Copper is used as it is a good conductor, doesn't corrode and is fairly cheap. Despite this, if a superconductive state can be achieved for copper, this will create lower resistance and direct cost savings. This is because the resistance in copper wires creates heat from electricity lost because of the resistance which in turn costs more for the electricity producer and the consumer.