Final answer:
Maglev trains utilize magnetic repulsion to achieve lift and propel forward, leveraging the properties of superconductors and the fundamental nature of magnetic fields to create a contactless and efficient form of transportation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lift experienced by maglev trains is primarily due to magnetic repulsion. Maglev, or magnetic levitation, involves using magnets to create lift and propulsion. This technology takes advantage of a fundamental property of magnets: like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other. In the case of maglev trains, superconductors are used to create strong magnetic fields that repel magnets on the tracks, lifting and moving the train forward without physical contact.
A related phenomenon applicable to superconductors is the Meissner effect, where a superconductor expels magnetic fields as it transitions to its superconducting state, thus enabling stable levitation of magnets above it. The interaction of the magnetic field due to induced current in the superconducting magnets and the magnetic tracks results in the repulsive force that lifts and propels the train.