Electricity and Magnetism

Floating in Copper

Floating in Copper is an elegant expression of a relatively simple phenomenon. Taking advantage of the slowing effects of eddy currents, visitors can make a central magnet literally float in space between two large pieces of copper. Notice that the closer the magnet is to the copper, the slower it moves. As the visitor draws the lower magnet up with the upper magnet, the motion induces eddy currents that serve to slow the lower magnet’s motion. This effectively sets up a feedback system slow enough for visitors to keep the magnet suspended in mid-air.

• Eddy Currents
• Electromagnetism
• Hand-Eye Coordination
• Magnetic Fields and Forces