Figure 9.19 Japan’s Maglev train. This Maglev (short for “magnetic levitation”) train is a test version that Japan and other nations hope to adopt for long-distance transportation in the near future. Maglev transportation uses electromagnets to levitate and float the train forward along a guideway. The result is a fast, smooth, quiet, efficient, and clean ride when compared to conventional wheeled trains. Traveling at speeds of over 310 miles (499 kilometers) per hour, this train is still in the prototype and testing stage, and is scheduled to connect Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty Images.)