The Sci Guys: Science at Home - Magnet in a Copper Tube Experiment - Eddy Currents & Lenz's Law

Welcome to science at home episode five, season three. In this episode we look at how and why eddy currents are generated when you drop a magnet down a copper tube. Eddy currents are electrical currents generated within a conductor when it is exposed to a changing magnetic field. When a magnet is dropped within a copper tube, it falls much slower then when it's dropped outside of the copper tube. At the end of the episode you will be able to explain what eddy currents are, what Lenz's law is and you will be able to demonstrate the slowing effect of eddy currents and Lenz's law on a magnet when it's dropped down a copper tube.