Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

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

Chapter 25 - Think and Do - Page 481: 34

Answer

When the magnet drops through the copper pipe, the moving magnetic field induces a circumferential current in the conducting pipe, which in turn gives rise to an induced magnetic field. This is predicted by Faraday's law, as stated on page 479. This induced magnetic field opposes the field that produced it. The magnet falls much more slowly than it would through a nonconducting pipe.

Work Step by Step

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