4 ms·

Agreed, it's probably MRI. There's more strange things going on in this article. While "In a way, they [superconductors] are the opposite of toasters" made me g

Agreed, it's probably MRI. There's more strange things going on in this article. While "In a way, they [superconductors] are the opposite of toasters" made me giggle a little, "Without magnets, we'd lack generators [electric lights and toasters], motors [municipal water supplies, ship engines], magnetrons [microwave ovens], and much more" made me cringe. Electric lights and toasters are pretty much unrelated to generators and I've yet to see an electric engine on a commercial ship. I wonder whether the author of the article put the examples there, I doubt that Prof. Weinstein did.

maho 11y ago
Electric light and toasters run on electricity "generated" by the generator. A lot of ships have electric engines. On cruise ships, diesel electric propulsion offers quieter and smoother rides. Some air-craft carriers and submarines have nuclear-electric propulsion systems. The article made me cringe, too, but mainly because it created a false impression on how big magnets are really energized. I've done it a few times (always with the same magnet, which keeps quenching...), and described the process here: http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/69222/ http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/69222/
- extrapickles 11y ago
  Diesel electric propulsion is quietly taking over most large mobile applications. Even cars are slowly going gasoline-electric. Better magnetics would only speed up the switch. Of ships it has what you stated, and you no longer have to build the engine on a incline to drive the propeller or have complex transmissions. Other benefits are you can have 2 engines and only run 1 during calm weather cruse. Also electric motors are able to be mounted in stearable pods, greatly increasing maneuverability of a ship (need fewer tugs to go into port). Some ships have nothing but the pods for good station keeping. Multiple locomotive trains only need 1 engine, but run power to several for extra traction, and it enables things like traction control that can't be cheaply done mechanically.

maho 11y ago

Electric light and toasters run on electricity "generated" by the generator. A lot of ships have electric engines. On cruise ships, diesel electric propulsion offers quieter and smoother rides. Some air-craft carriers and submarines have nuclear-electric propulsion systems. The article made me cringe, too, but mainly because it created a false impression on how big magnets are really energized. I've done it a few times (always with the same magnet, which keeps quenching...), and described the process here: http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/69222/ http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/69222/

extrapickles 11y ago
Diesel electric propulsion is quietly taking over most large mobile applications. Even cars are slowly going gasoline-electric. Better magnetics would only speed up the switch. Of ships it has what you stated, and you no longer have to build the engine on a incline to drive the propeller or have complex transmissions. Other benefits are you can have 2 engines and only run 1 during calm weather cruse. Also electric motors are able to be mounted in stearable pods, greatly increasing maneuverability of a ship (need fewer tugs to go into port). Some ships have nothing but the pods for good station keeping. Multiple locomotive trains only need 1 engine, but run power to several for extra traction, and it enables things like traction control that can't be cheaply done mechanically.