I was thinking about those super fast trains in Japan and wondering what there speed would be on Mars?

Question

In 1/3 gravity i'll bet those suckers really go super fast.

Answer 1

The gravity effects  vertical movements as an opposite force, such as a rocket taking off much faster and using less force on Mars than Earth.

I'm not sure if it effects the horizontal movements as much?

Regards.

Answer 2

Using current railway technology they would probably have to be slower.  It is the weight that keeps them on the rails, and with lower gravity there is the chance they might bounce off.  Track standards would have to be a whole lot higher than they are here and the speed of the train is dictated by that as much as anything else.  

Answer 3

Ken gives a great answer. In lower gravity, bumps in the track would be more likely to cause derailment, and turns would need to be banked more sharply to keep the train from tipping over in them at the same speeds as on Earth.

The lower gravity would result in less friction, as would the very thin atmosphere on Mars. It would take less energy to reach equivalent speeds there, but as Ken says, it's the design of the tracks that limits the safe speeds of the trains moreso than the gravity. If they designed a mag-lev train, or a type of track like roller coasters where the trains cannot lift off of the track, then they'd be able to go pretty fast.

Answer 4

Does a rocket move super fast in space even though it moves superfast on earth? am sorry man,but I juust wanted to show u the answer witha question.Friction (air resistance) is what causes a train to be slow an that is what reduces the efficiency.If a train could be without air resistance,(like the maglev train in china) it would move more faster.but in space no air resistance only gravity,an u know both act the same so the rocket would move slow.F=ma,W=mg  g=gravity,f=frictional force so increse in frictional force = increase in gravity since they are proportional.