Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 25 - Think and Discuss - Page 483: 92

Answer

The bar magnet falls slowly because it interacts with the magnetic field created by the current induced in the conducting tube. If we use an insulating cardboard tube, there is no induced current, no induced field, and a magnet falls just as quickly as a nonmagnetic object.

Work Step by Step

If you are interested, the term to look up is "eddy currents".
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