VISUAL PHYSICS ONLINE
MODULE 6 ELECTROMAGNETISM
ELECTROMAMAGNETIC INDUCTION
EDDY CURRENTS
Eddy currents: A changing magnetic flux can induce a current
in a conductor. Sometimes the changing magnetic flux induces
circulating current known as eddy currents.
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A changing magnetic flux can induce a current in a conductor.
Sometimes the changing magnetic flux induces circulating
current known as eddy currents.
Eddy currents have a heating effect upon the conductor (ohmic
heating P I 2 R ). This heating effect is put to good use in
induction cooktops, but this heating effect contributes to an
energy loss in transformers.
When you try to pull a strip of copper or aluminium through the
poles of a magnet, you feel a retarding force. As you move the
conductor through the magnetic field of the magnet, a changing
flux is produced. This results in circulating eddy currents in the
metal strip. The induced force on the metal strip opposes its
motion (Lenz’s law).
2
Iinduced
v
F
metal sheet
pulled towards the right
magnetic force F to the left
on the induced current Iinduced
which opposes the motion
Fig.1. Metal sheet pulled through a magnetic field
experiences a drag force. This drag force opposes the
motion of the metal through the B-field. The direction of
the induced current can be determined using the right-
hand palm rule.
If you drop a permanent magnet through a vertical plastic tube,
the magnet will fall freely with an acceleration g. But, if it falls
through a vertical copper pipe eddy currents are established
around the circumference of the pipe. The faster the magnet
falls the greater the induced eddy currents and the greater the
opposing force to slow the magnet down. So, the magnet falls
very slowly through the copper pipe, speeding up, slowing down
repeatedly as it drifts down the tube. Try sliding a magnet down
a sheet of aluminium – you will notice this effect.
3
Eddy currents can be used in electromagnetic breaking. A large
electromagnet is located over the wheels of a vehicle. When the
electromagnet is switched on, large eddy currents are induced in
the metal wheels and the magnetic force provides a drag force
on wheels to stop the vehicle.
rotation
direction of current:
Y right hand palm rule
I
Z
X
B-field into page F
B
I
drag force on
wheel – opposes
the rotation of
the wheels
direction of motion
induced currents – clockwise loops
of metal element
for metal elements moving into B-
field region
Fig. 2. As an element of the metal enters the magnetic
field, circular current loops are induced. The force on
these current loops in such that it opposes the motion
of the metal.
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rotation
direction of current:
Y right hand palm rule
I
Z
X
B-field into page F
B
I
drag force on
wheel – opposes
the rotation of
the wheels
direction of motion induced currents – anti-clockwise
of metal element loops for metal elements exiting
from B-field region
Fig. 3. As an element of the metal exits from the
magnetic field, circular current loops are induced. The
force on these current loops in such that it opposes the
motion of the metal.
5
rotation
direction of force:
Y right hand palm rule
I
Z
X
B-field into page F
B
I
braking force acting
rotating wheel
N.B. The force acts on the current
induced currents – clockwise loops
induced currents – anti-clockwise for metal elements moving into B-
loops for metal elements exiting field region
from B-field region
Fig. 4. As the metal wheel rotates, the section of the
wheel within the B-field region will experience a drag
force that can be used to stop the rotation. This is the
mechanism used for brakes in vehicles using an
electromagnetic induction braking system.
6
Eddy currents are used to dampen unwanted oscillations. For
example, very sensitive mechanical balances would oscillate up
and down about its equilibrium position when a mass was placed
on the scales if not for the damping produced by eddy currents.
Eddy currents are usually unwanted because of their heating.
Eddy currents induced in the armature of a motor, generator or
transformer can produce a considerable heating effect (ohmic
heating P I 2 R ). This degrades their performance because
energy is lost as thermal energy.
Theses thermal energy losses can be reduced by using
conductive slabs that are laminated (small strips glued together).
This separates the conductive strips by an insulator, hence, the
eddy currents are confined to individual strips which dramatically
reduces the heating effect.
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induced eddy currents
Binduced induced eddy currents
Bcoil
I
current increasing I
current
increasing
eddy currents cause a heating effect
insulating layers
Laminations reduce magnitude of eddy currents
less ohmic heating ( I 2 R )
Fig. 5. Laminations reduce the magnitude of eddy
currents. This reduces the ohmic heating of the metal
core.
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Also, if the conductor has cuts made in it, again the eddy
currents are weaker reducing the heating effect and also
reducing the magnetic drag force acting on the conductor.
drag force opposing motion
velocity
copper sheet: copper sheet with slits to
large drag force to oppose motion reduce the eddy currents
small drag force
Fig. 6. Copper sheets falling through the poles of a magnet.
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Induction cooktops are becoming more popular. The cooktop
does not get hot. No heat is transferred from the cooktop to the
saucepan. A coil in the cooktop induces eddy currents in the base
of a saucepan. The eddy currents in the metal base produce the
heating effect ( P I 2 R ). Induction cooktops are more energy
efficient and quicker than traditional cooktops. The magnetic
properties of a steel vessel concentrate the induced current in a
thin layer near its surface. This makes the heating effect
stronger. In non-magnetic materials like aluminium, the B-field
field penetrates too far, and the induced current encounters
little resistance in the metal. Practical induction cookers are
designed for ferromagnetic saucepans or frypans that will stick
to a magnet.
eddy currents – in a thin
layer of ferromagnetic
material at base of
saucepan heating effect
ceramic cooktop
(does not get hot)
coils – ac current
Fig. 6. Induction heating of a saucepan.
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