What it shows
A falling magnet induces eddy currents in the copper pipe. By Lenz’s law these currents make a magnetic field that opposes the motion, so the magnet falls far more slowly than a non-magnetic object.
This idea has a short entry only. For the science behind it, read the sentence above with your textbook and ask your teacher to explain the law or idea it shows, so you can describe it in your own words.
Materials
- A strong neodymium magnet
- A copper or aluminium pipe
- A non-magnetic object of similar size for comparison
- A stopwatch
Safety
For this project: Neodymium magnets snap together and can pinch. Keep them away from phones, pacemakers and young children.
Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.
All the safety rulesHow to go about it
Numbered steps have not been written for this idea yet. Plan it with your teacher: sketch the design with measurements, build one part at a time, test each part, and write every observation with the date. The free ebooks below have step-by-step projects of the same kind.
Take it further
Time the fall through pipes of different thickness or length.
Change one thing, measure what happens, and add a table or chart of your readings: that is what turns a model into your own investigation.
Free ebooks for this project
Science projects
Investigatory Projects for Class 11 and 12
Topics, method and report structure for physics, chemistry and biology
Science projects
Electricity and Magnetism Experiments
Hands-on experiments with cells, wires, bulbs and magnets