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In this activity related to magnetism and electricity, learners discover that a magnet falls more slowly through a metallic tube than it does through a nonmetallic tube. Use this activity to illustrate how eddy currents in an electrical conductor create a magnetic field that exerts an opposing force on the falling magnet, which makes it fall at a slower rate. This activity guide also includes demonstration instructions involving two thick, flat pieces of aluminum to illustrate the same principle.
- Under 5 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- $1 - $5 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 18
- Activity, Demonstration
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- A cow magnet or neodymium magnet
- A nonmagnetic object, such as a pen or a pencil
- One 3 foot (90 cm) length of aluminum, copper, or brass tubing (do not use iron!) with an inner diameter larger than the cow magnet and with walls as thick as possible
- One 3 foot (90 cm) PVC or other nonmetallic tubing
- (Optional) 2 thick, flat pieces of aluminum (available at hardware and home-repair stores, optional)
- (Optional) cardboard
- (Optional) Masking tape
- (Optional) Rubber bands or cord
Subjects
-
Physical Sciences
-
Electricity and Magnetism
- Electric Charges and Currents
-
Motion and Forces
- Gravity
-
Electricity and Magnetism
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
-
The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, The Exploratorium,
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation
- California Department of Education
- NEC Foundation of America