AISSCE 2017-2018

D.A.V. Sr. SECONDARY SCHOOL,

MOGAPPAIR,CHENNAI-37

PHYSICS PROJECT
TO DEMONSTRATE EDDY CURRENTS USING
COPPER PLATES AND SPEAKER MAGNETS
AND NEODYMIUM MAGNETS

NAME : R.RAGA SARANYA

CLASS : XII-A
REGISTRATION NO. :
 AISSCE 2017-2018

D.A.V. Sr. SECONDARY SCHOOL,

MOGAPPAIR,CHENNAI-37

PHYSICS PROJECT
TO DEMONSTRATE EDDY CURRENTS USING
COPPER PLATES AND SPEAKER MAGNETS
AND NEODYMIUM MAGNETS

NAME : M.N.ANUSHA
CLASS : XII-A
REGISTRATION NO. :
 BONAFIDE CERIFICATE

REGISTER NO.:

Certified to be the Bonafide Project work in PHYSICS done by R.RAGA

SARANYA of class XII-A of D.A.V. SR. SECONDARY SCHOOL during the year
2017-2018

------------------------------ ---------------------------------

Signature of the Principal Signature of subject teacher

SCHOOL SEAL

Submitted for the Practical Exam held on _________________ at

D.A.V. SR. SECONDARY SCHOOL,MOGAPPAIR,CHENNAI

--------------------------------- ----------------------------------

Internal Examiner External Examiner

DATE:
 BONAFIDE CERIFICATE

REGISTER NO.:

Certified to be the Bonafide Project work in PHYSICS done by M.N.ANUSHA of

class XII-A of D.A.V. SR. SECONDARY SCHOOL during the year 2017-2018

------------------------------ ---------------------------------

Signature of the Principal Signature of subject teacher

SCHOOL SEAL

Submitted for the Practical Exam held on _________________ at

D.A.V. SR. SECONDARY SCHOOL,MOGAPPAIR,CHENNAI

--------------------------------- ----------------------------------

Internal Examiner External Examiner

DATE:
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude to all those who made it possible

to complete this Project. I would like to firstly thank my Principal,
Mrs. Malliga Sridhar for giving me a learning environment and an
opportunity to practice what I have been taught.

I would like to thank my Physics teacher, Mrs Vasanthi S.S for her
guidance, motivation and encouragement throughout the course of
the project.

This project would not have been possible without the support of
Mrs. A. Varalakshmi, our lab assistant.

Last but not least I would like to thank my partner R .Raga Saranya
who helped me to successfully complete the project.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude to all those who made it possible

to complete this Project. I would like to firstly thank my Principal,
Mrs. Malliga Sridhar for giving me a learning environment and an
opportunity to practice what I have been taught.

I would like to thank my Physics teacher, Mrs.Vasanthi S.S for her

guidance, motivation and encouragement throughout the course of
the project.

This project would not have been possible without the support of
Mrs. A. Varalakshmi, our lab assistant.

Last but not least I would like to thank my partner M.N.Anusha who
helped me to successfully complete the project.
 CONTENTS

S.NO TOPIC

1. INTRODUCTION

2. AIM

3. APPARTUS

4. THEORY

5. PROCEDURE

6. RESULT

7. CONCLUSION
 8. BIBILOGRAPHY

INTRODUCTION

Eddy Currents:
Eddy Currents are induced circulating currents produced in the body
of a conductor due to change in magnetic flux linked with the
conductor. These currents were discovered by Foucault in the year
1895 and so they are also called Foucault currents. The direction of
eddy currents is given by Lenz’s law or Fleming’s right hand rule.

When a block of metal is moved in or out of a magnetic field or

placed in a non-uniform i.e., varying magnetic field, the amount of
flux linked with block changes. Therefore, an induced e.m.f is set up
in the block. This induced e.m.f causes currents to flow in concentric
closed path throughout the body of the block in the same manner as
in a closed loop placed in a varying magnetic field. Such currents are
called eddy currents as they look like eddies.

The heating effect originates from the transformation of electric

energy into heat energy and is used in induction heating devices, like
some cookers and welders. The resistance felt by the eddy currents in
a conductor causes Joule heating and the amount of heat generated
is proportional to the current squared. However, for applications like
motors, generators and transformers, this heat is considered wasted
energy and as such, eddy currents need to be minimized. This can be
achieved by laminating the metal cores of these devices, where each
core is made up of multiple insulated sheets of metal. This splits the
core in many individual magnetic circuits and restricts the flow of the
eddy currents through it, reducing the amount of heat generated
through Joule heating.

Various Methods Of Generating E.M.F.

Φ = BA cosθ
The magnetic flux can be changed by changing B,A or θ.
Hence, there are three methods of producing induced e.m.f.

1. By changing the magnitude of the magnitude field B.

2. By changing the area A.
3. By changing the relative orientation of the surface area
and the magnetic field (θ).
Undesirable effects of Eddy Current:
● As the resistance of metallic conductors is small so that
magnitude of Eddy Currents is large. Metal gets heated
to a high temperature, this leads to the loss of electrical
energy in the form of heat.
● The excessive heat produced due to Eddy Currents
may break the insulation in electrical appliances like
coils of dynamos and electric motors thus reduce their
life.
● Eddy Current causes damping effects and thus they
oppose the relative motions.
To minimise the losses due to Eddy Currents
The solid metallic core of the device is built by large number of
thin sheets separated by an insulating material like lacquer.
Such a core is called laminated core. Such laminated cores are
often used in transformers, generators and motors. Also,
slotting cuts the path of eddies.

Applications of Eddy Currents

● Working of induction furnaces based on the
heating effects of Eddy Currents used for preparing
alloys. A high frequency alternating current is passed
through a coil which surround the metal to be melted.
The eddy current generated in the metal produces
high temperature sufficient to melt it.

● Induction motors.

● Electromagnetic Damping: Certain

Galvanometers have a fixed core made of non-
magnetic metallic material. When the coil oscillates,
the Eddy Currents generated in the core oppose the
motion and bring the coil to rest quickly.

● In Electromagnetic brakes: Strong

electromagnets are situated above rails in some
electrically powered trains. When the electromagnets
are activated, the Eddy Currents induced in the rails
 oppose the motion of the train. As there are no
mechanical linkages, the breaking effect is smooth.

DEMONSTRATION OF EDDY CURRENTS

EXPERIMENT 1:
Aim:
To demonstrate eddy currents using copper plates.

Apparatus Required:
Copper plates, speaker magnets, stand to suspend the plates.

Theory:
● When magnetic field is not present on the metallic plate
once disturbed oscillates freely for a longer period but when
the field is present on the plate it is allowed to oscillate
about the same axis of rotation the oscillations are damped
and in a little while the plates come to a halt. This is
because Eddy Currents are anti-clockwise according to
Lenz’s law and cause the repulsion of the plate away from
the magnet.

● Similarly when the plate leaves the field the currents are
setup in the clockwise direction so as to oppose the
movement of the plate out of the region of magnetic field. In
either case the effect is to produce damping. If some narrow
slots are cut across one end of the plate, the plate is again
made to oscillate in the magnetic field the damping effect is
 there but it is very less compared to that in former case and
plate is found to swing for a much longer time. It means
Eddy Currents are reduced.

PROCEDURE:
1. Take a copper plate without any slots and allow it to swing
like a pendulum in the absence of magnetic field.
2. Record the time taken after 10 oscillations.
3. Now take a copper plate with slots and allow it to swing like
a pendulum in the absence of magnetic field.
4. Record the time taken after 10 oscillations.
5. Now take a copper plate without any slots and allow it to
swing like a pendulum between the pole pieces of a strong
magnet.
6. Record the time taken after 10 oscillations.
7. Now take a copper plate and allow it to swing like a
pendulum between the pole pieces of a strong magnet.
8. Record the time taken after 10 oscillations.

OBSERVATION:
● In the absence of magnetic field it is found that the copper
plates swing freely without any damping and therefore the
time taken is less.
● But in the presence of magnetic field, it is found that the
motion of the copper plates (without slots) is damped and
in a little while the plate comes to rest in the magnetic field.
● This is because magnetic field associated with the plate
keeps changing as the plate moves in and out of the region
between magnetic poles.
● The flux change induces eddy currents in the plate.
 ● Directions of eddy currents are opposite when the plates
swing in the region between the poles and when it swings
out of the region. Thus the time taken is more.
● The copper plates with slots, in the presence of magnetic
field has electromagnetic damping as the area available to
the flow of eddy currents is less. Thus the time taken is
comparatively less.

Without slots With slots

In the absence of In the presence of In the absence of In the presence of
magnetic field magnetic field magnetic field magnetic field

00:00:10:99 00:00:11:54 00:00:10:50 00:00:11:17

00:00:10:99 00:00:11:54 00:00:10:50 00:00:11:17
00:00:10:99 00:00:11:54 00:00:10:50 00:00:10:50

RESULT:
Thus the motion of the copper plates are retarded in the
presence of magnetic field during the production of eddy
currents.
Time taken without slots:
In the absence of magnetic field : 00:00:10:99
In the presence of magnetic field : 00:00:11:54
Time taken with slots:
In the absence of magnetic field : 00:00:10:50
In the presence of magnetic field : 00:00:10:50
EXPERIMENT 2:
AIM:
To demonstrate eddy currents using neodymium magnets.

APPARTAUS REQUIRED:
PVC pipe, aluminium pipe, neodymium magnet, stop clock.

THEORY:
● When magnetic field is not present in the pipe, the
neodymium magnet falls freely under the influence of
gravity.
● In the presence of magnetic field, the magnet takes a
longer time to fall through the pipe. This is due to the
production of eddy currents which retards the fall of the
magnet.
● Magnetic field is produced by the aluminium pipe. On
the other hand, the PVC pipe does not provide any
magnetic field.

PROCEDURE:
1. Take two pipes- PVC and aluminium.
 2. Drop a neodymium magnet in free air and note down the
time taken.
3. Drop the magnet through the PVC pipe and note the time
taken by the magnet to fall through it.
4. Repeat the same procedure with the aluminium pipe.

OBSERVATION:

PVC PIPE ALUMINIUM PIPE

00:00:00:87 00:00:05:30
00:00:00:87 00:00:05:30
00:00:00:87 00:00:05:30

RESULT:
Thus the motion of the neodymium magnet is retarded when it
falls through the aluminium pipe and not the PVC pipe. This is
because the aluminium pipe provides magnetic field which
produces eddy current.
Time taken by the neodymium magnet to fall through
(i) PVC pipe : 00:00:00:87
(ii)Aluminium pipe : 00:00:05:30
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

● www.wikipedia.com/eddycurrents
● Class XII Physics text book