VOA标准英语2014--New Skateboard Defies Gravity

 

New Skateboard Defies Gravity

WASHINGTON— 

A futuristic dream only a couple of decades ago, the hoverboard – a skateboard that floats above the ground - has finally been made possible. While still not ready for mass production, it promises to become a cool mode of transport, at least over some surfaces.

Mutual² repulsion between the same poles of two magnets can counteract³ the force of gravity, and make an object levitate⁴ or hover¹ in space.

Since the 1980s, that principle has been employed in so-called maglev⁵ trains in Europe, Japan and China, that hover above the track. With no contact between the carriage and the surface, and hence no friction⁶, maglev trains are almost noiseless and can move very fast.

Architect Greg Henderson, who founded the company Arx Pax with his wife Jill, said the same technology can make anything hover, even buildings.

“Imagine there's an earthquake and the early warning turns on the warning systems and the supports fall away as the building starts to hover. The shaking stops, the supports return, and no one in that room or in that building ever knew there was an earthquake," said Henderson.

As a proof of the concept, Henderson's company created the first maglev hoverboard, called Hendo, capable of holding a single person about 2.5 centimeters above a metal surface.

"We are creating a magnetic field, and then through a method of induction⁷, that's part of our secret sauce, we are creating a secondary and equal magnetic field in this conductive surface," explained Henderson.

For now, batteries that power Hendo's four engines last only for a short time, but design engineer Kyle O'Neil said for experienced skateboarders, it is enough to learn how to control the hoverboard.

“Some people say it's like snowboarding. Some say it's how they imagined a hoverboard is supposed to be, which is kind of an interesting response because no one's ever ridden one before,” said O’Neil.

Hendo’s creators say they do not expect to see their hoverboard on the streets anytime soon, because it only works on a metal-covered surface. But they say larger hover engines could be used for transporting containers, for instance, within a warehouse⁸.

For now, their dream is to build a skateboard park where anyone can take a spin on a hoverboard - straight out of science fiction.

1 hover   

vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫

参考例句：

• You don't hover round the table.你不要围着桌子走来走去。
• A plane is hover on our house.有一架飞机在我们的房子上盘旋。

2 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

3 counteract   

vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消

参考例句：

• The doctor gave him some medicine to counteract the effect of the poison.医生给他些药解毒。
• Our work calls for mutual support.We shouldn't counteract each other's efforts.工作要互相支持，不要互相拆台。

4 levitate   

v.升在空中

参考例句：

• I often dream that I can levitate.我经常梦想我能够飞起来在空中飘浮。
• The guru claimed that he could levitate.这位宗教领袖声称他能够浮在空中。

5 maglev   

n.磁力悬浮列车；adj.磁力悬浮列车的

参考例句：

• The engine for maglev trains is rather in noticeable.磁悬浮列车的车头是相当值得注意的。
• The high speed maglev railway is a new-style traffic system. 高速磁悬浮铁路是一种新型的交通方式。

6 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

7 induction   

n.感应，感应现象

参考例句：

• His induction as a teacher was a turning point in his life.他就任教师工作是他一生的转折点。
• The magnetic signals are sensed by induction coils.磁信号由感应线圈所检测。

8 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。