- #1
magnetics
Gold Member
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Hi,
I was doing an experiment with Neodymium magnets and a long copper pipe (3cm internal diameter) to see Lenz's Law in action. At first I used a long bar magnet (about 15cm long) and there was little resistance to the magnet falling through the pipe. It was only slightly slower than a non-magnetic object. I then used a bar magnet of the same material and diameter that was only 3cm long and this magnet fell about 5 times slower. It took around 5sec to fall through the pipe compared to around one second for the 15cm magnet.
Can someone please describe why there is such a difference in the rate of falling (including using maths)?
It must have to do with the amount of electrical current each magnet generates within the conductor (copper pipe) and the extra weight of the longer magnet since F = mg.
Thank you.
I was doing an experiment with Neodymium magnets and a long copper pipe (3cm internal diameter) to see Lenz's Law in action. At first I used a long bar magnet (about 15cm long) and there was little resistance to the magnet falling through the pipe. It was only slightly slower than a non-magnetic object. I then used a bar magnet of the same material and diameter that was only 3cm long and this magnet fell about 5 times slower. It took around 5sec to fall through the pipe compared to around one second for the 15cm magnet.
Can someone please describe why there is such a difference in the rate of falling (including using maths)?
It must have to do with the amount of electrical current each magnet generates within the conductor (copper pipe) and the extra weight of the longer magnet since F = mg.
Thank you.