Eddy currents:Small magnet slowly drops between aluminum rails.

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(D)Electricity and Magnetism - D+15: Faraday's Law

Magnet drops slowly between aluminum bars due to eddy current effect. A small but powerful Neodymium magnet is inserted between vertical parallel aluminum bars. The magnet falls slowly. Eddy currents are induced in the aluminum, causing magnetic fields that oppose that of the falling magnet,-slowing its descent.
UCB Index: 
D+15+26
PIRA Index: 
5K20.25
Demo Diagram: 

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D+15+28 Eddy currents: Neodymium Magnet Drop.

Comments

Mr. Little

Tue, 10/06/2015 - 16:30

Instead of this demo we will probably give you a copper rod and some magnets. That means that participants won't be able to see the magnet drop but they can count as it falls. We can also give you a large number of magnets if you want to experiment with stacking them and seeing how the time changes. As always when you present a demo make sure you ask the participants questions before you demonstrate and after. Think about the concepts involved beforehand; having a friend ask you questions about it can be very revealing as to if you understand it well or not. Whenever you ask a question count to five (or at least three) in your head waiting for an answer before you stay anything else.