Eddy Currents Tube Experiment (Eddy Currents in a Copper pipe)

Eddy Currents Tube Experiment

Made for teachers and parents

Copper tube with Neodymium Magnets
Eddy Currents in a Copper pipe

Supplies
Copper pipe 1In. X 2ft. - https://amzn.to/2XWKniq
DIYMAG Refrigerator Magnets - https://amzn.to/2KtvRXn

Kids Fun Science On-line Store (All money goes back into the schools)
https://teespring.com/stores/kids-fun-science

Filming equipment
Cell Phone Tripod 54 inch Travel Tripod with Bluetooth Remote - https://amzn.to/34REzbB
Blue Yeti USB Microphone - https://amzn.to/3ePJwGu
Green screen & lights - https://amzn.to/2XT9Yc1

like iron, Copper is not a magnetic material, so the magnet won’t stick to it, therefore a magnetic attraction cannot be the reason for the slowing of the fall of the magnet.

When I drop a non-magnetic piece in the copper tube it drops much faster, so we know a magnet must have a role in this experiment even though threw magnet is not physically attracted to the copper tube.

When we look down on the copper tube as the magnet is falling, you can see the magnet never touches the sides of the copper tube, therefore friction does not have a role in slowing down the magnet.

When the magnet drops in the copper tube, it produces a magnetic field and as it falls the magnetic field changes. This introduces a magnetic current as predicted by Faraday’s Law. Faraday’s Law states: Any change in the magnetic environment of the copper tube will cause a voltage to be “induced” in the copper tubing. This induced voltage creates electric currents in the copper called Eddy Currents.

This phenomenon is known as Lenz’s Law.
The magnetic field induced in the metal attracts the falling magnet, creating resistance. This resistance is what slowed down your magnet. As your magnet slows down, it stops generating as much current, which reduces the resistance acting on the magnet’s movement. Gravity speeds the magnet back up again until it reaches a happy medium speed. Basically, your magnet is creating a whirlpool of electrons around it as it falls through your pipe.

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