Copper vs Silver: Which Slows Down a Magnet Faster?

🧲Copper and silver tubes can slow down the descent of a magnet due to the generation of opposing magnetic fields through the production of electrical currents.

💡The phenomenon observed is based on Lenz's Law, which states that an induced current opposes the change that produced it.

⚛️The generation of electricity using magnets and conductive materials, as seen in this experiment, provides insights into how electricity is generally generated.

🆚Despite silver having lower resistance than copper, the experiment reveals that copper slows down the magnet more effectively.

🔍Further experiments with different materials and magnet sizes could provide additional insights into the interaction between magnets and conductive materials.

Why do copper and silver tubes slow down the magnet?

—The tubes slow down the magnet due to the generation of electrical currents as the magnet falls through them. These currents create opposing magnetic fields that act against the magnet's motion.

What is Lenz's Law?

—Lenz's Law states that an induced current will always flow in a direction that opposes the change that produced it. In the case of the falling magnet, the induced current creates a magnetic field that opposes the magnet's motion, thus slowing it down.

Why does the silver tube allow the magnet to fall faster?

—Despite silver having lower resistance than copper, the experiment shows that the silver tube allows the magnet to fall faster. This could be due to factors such as the specific properties of the silver or the interaction between the magnet and the conductive material.

Can other materials be used to slow down a falling magnet?

—Yes, other conductive materials can also be used to slow down a falling magnet. The effectiveness of different materials may vary, and further experiments can provide insights into their interactions with magnets.

What are potential applications of this phenomenon?

—Understanding the interaction between magnets and conductive materials can lead to applications in areas such as energy generation, electromagnetic braking systems, and magnetic levitation.

00:00Introduction to the experiment: using copper and silver tubes to slow down a falling magnet.

00:34Explanation of Lenz's Law and its application in this experiment.

01:13Preparation and casting of the copper and silver tubes using the lost PLA and ceramic shell method.

03:58Melting the PLA out of the shells and preparing for the pouring of molten metal.

06:03Breaking the shells and cleaning the casted copper and silver tubes.

08:11Testing the tubes by dropping a magnet through them.

09:32Experimenting with different ways of using the tubes to interact with the magnet.

10:58Final thoughts and plans for future experiments.