SCHOOL NAME

Physics investigatory project

NAME:
CLASS: XII
ROLL N0:
SESSION: 2023-24

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 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that

Student Name
has successfully completed his/her Physics
project titled
EDDY CURRENT

under the supervision and guidance of

PHYSICS TEACHER

in the partial fulfillment of the Physics

practical
assessment conducted during the
academic year
2023-2024.

EXAMINER TEACHER

_______________ ______________

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my immense gratitude to

my physics teacher _________________ for the help

and guidance he/she provided for completing this
project.

I also thank my parents who gave their ideas and

inputs in making this project. Most of all I thank
our school management, for providing us the
facilities and opportunity to do this project.

Lastly, I would like to thanks my classmates who

have done this project along with me. Their
support made this project fruitful.

- Student Name

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 INDEX

CONTENT PAGE NO.

Certificate 2

Acknowledgement 3

Topic 5

Introduction 6

Theory 7

Property of Eddy Current 8

Application 10

Drawback 12

Construction 14

Working 16

Precautions 17

Bibliography 18

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 TOPIC

Eddy Current Investigatory Project

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 INTRODUCTION

Eddy currents, often referred to as Foucault’s currents, are electrical

current loops that are generated into conductors by a shifting
magnetic field, in accordance with Faraday’s law of induction. When
graphed, these circular currents within a metal object mimic eddies or
whirlpools in a liquid. In this investigatory project we will learn more
about them in-depth.
Have you noticed your car’s speedometer? A little low magnet in the
speed indicator is attached to the car’s drive shaft. It rotates based on
the vehicle’s speed. Eddy currents have the effect of opposing the
rotational motion and deflecting the pointer at a specific angle. The
calibrated scale and attached pointer show the vehicle’s speed.
Eddy currents waste energy because they tend to oppose one another.
Many beneficial forms of energy, such as kinetic energy, are
transformed into heat by eddy currents, which is typically not
beneficial.

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 THEORY

In electromagnetism, eddy currents (also called Foucault's currents)

are loops of electric current induced within conductors by a
changing magnetic field in the conductor according to Faraday's law
of induction or by the relative motion of a conductor in a magnetic
field. Eddy currents flow in closed loops within conductors, in planes
perpendicular to the magnetic field. They can be induced within
nearby stationary conductors by a time-varying magnetic field created
by an AC electromagnet or transformer, for example, or by relative
motion between a magnet and a nearby conductor. The magnitude of
the current in a given loop is proportional to the strength of the
magnetic field, the area of the loop, and the rate of change of flux, and
inversely proportional to the resistivity of the material. When
graphed, these circular currents within a piece of metal look vaguely
like eddies or whirlpools in a liquid.
By Lenz's law, an eddy current creates a magnetic field that opposes
the change in the magnetic field that created it, and thus eddy currents
react back on the source of the magnetic field. For example, a nearby
conductive surface will exert a drag force on a moving magnet that
opposes its motion, due to eddy currents induced in the surface by the
moving magnetic field. This effect is employed in eddy current
brakes which are used to stop rotating power tools quickly when they
are turned off. The current flowing through the resistance of the
conductor also dissipates energy as heat in the material. Thus eddy
currents are a cause of energy loss in alternating current
(AC) inductors, transformers, electric motors and generators, and
other AC machinery, requiring special construction such as laminated
magnetic cores or ferrite cores to minimize them.

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Eddy currents are also used to heat objects in induction
heating furnaces and equipment, and to detect cracks and flaws in
metal parts using eddy-current testing instruments.

Properties of Eddy currents

➢ Circular Flow: Eddy currents circulate within the conductor in

closed loops. The direction of these loops depends on the
orientation of the changing magnetic field.

➢ Resistance: Eddy currents create resistance within the

conductor. This resistance leads to the conversion of electrical
energy into heat energy, which can be both beneficial (e.g., in
induction heating) or undesirable (e.g., in transformers and
electric motors where energy loss occurs).

➢ Dependent on Magnetic Field: The magnitude of eddy currents

is directly proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic
field. Faster changes in the magnetic field strength lead to
stronger eddy currents.

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 ➢ Skin Effect: Eddy currents tend to concentrate near the surface
of the conductor, leading to what is known as the "skin effect."
This means that the majority of the current flows near the
surface, while the core of the conductor carries relatively less
current.

➢ Magnetic Field Generation: Eddy currents themselves produce

a magnetic field, which opposes the original changing magnetic
field that induced them. This phenomenon is governed by Lenz's
law, which states that the induced current will always oppose
the change that produced it.

➢ Losses in Conductors: In applications such as transformers and

motors, eddy currents can cause energy losses in the form of
heat. To minimize these losses, conductive materials with
laminated or layered structures are often used, which disrupt the
flow of eddy currents.

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 Application of Eddy Currents

✓ Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Eddy currents are extensively

used for flaw detection, crack detection, and thickness
measurements in materials without causing any damage to the
test object.

✓ Metal Sorting: Eddy current systems are employed to separate

different types of metals for recycling purposes based on their
electrical conductivity.

✓ Eddy Current Brakes: In some trains and roller coasters, eddy

current braking systems are used to slow down or stop the
vehicles smoothly without mechanical wear and tear.

✓ Induction Heating: Eddy currents are used to heat conductive

materials for various industrial processes such as welding,
annealing, and hardening.

✓ Speed Sensors: Eddy current sensors can be used as non-

contact speed sensors in machinery and vehicles.

✓ Eddy Current Dampers: These dampers are used to reduce

vibrations in sensitive instruments and equipment.

✓ Metal Detectors: Eddy current metal detectors are used in

security screening applications to detect metallic objects.

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 ✓ Proximity Sensors: Eddy current proximity sensors are utilized
to detect the presence or absence of a conductive target without
physical contact.
✓ Sorting Conductive Powders: Eddy current systems can be
employed to sort and separate conductive powders based on
their particle size or composition.

✓ Eddy Current Clutches: These clutches are used in various

mechanical systems to transmit torque smoothly.

✓ Eddy Current Dynamometers: They are used to measure the

power output of engines and motors.

✓ Eddy Current Testing of Tubes: In heat exchangers and

condensers, eddy current testing is used to inspect the integrity
of tubes.

✓ Magnetic Levitation (Maglev): Eddy currents are involved in

the magnetic levitation systems used in some high-speed trains
and transportation technologies.

✓ Eddy Current Flow Meters: These meters are used to measure

the flow rate of electrically conductive fluids, like water, in
pipes.

✓ Eddy Current Couplings: In some machinery, eddy current

couplings are used to transmit torque between two rotating
components without direct mechanical contact.

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 Drawbacks of Eddy Current

➢ Heat Generation: One of the major drawbacks is that eddy

currents can cause heat to be generated within the conductor. This
is particularly problematic in electrical devices because the heat
can cause damage to the components.

➢ Energy Loss: Eddy currents lead to significant energy losses. The

energy used to generate these currents is transformed into heat,
which is generally a waste of energy.

➢ Magnetic Core Saturation: If too large, eddy currents can

saturate the magnetic core of devices like transformers or induction
coils. This can reduce the effectiveness of these devices and also
cause them to overheat.

➢ Noise: Eddy currents can cause the components of motors and

generators to vibrate, which leads to unwanted noise.

➢ Reduced Efficiency: Their presence reduces the overall efficiency

of electrical devices and systems. This is especially evident in
transformers, generators, and electric motors.

➢ Interference: In certain applications, they can cause

electromagnetic interference or disturbance.

➢ Core Losses: In electromagnetic devices such as transformers,

induction motors, etc., eddy currents cause core losses, leading to
higher electricity consumption.

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 Practical Demonstration

Eddy current is such a complex topic which cannot be understood by

imagination or theory alone, so here we will use a practical
demonstration to make it easier to understand. In this demonstration,
we will build a working model based on eddy current and try to
understand all the principles and concepts behind it.

Materials Required

▪ Cardboard
▪ Battery (9V)
▪ Switch/Key
▪ DC Motor
▪ Aluminium Can
▪ Cylindrical Magnet
▪ Iron stick/rod
▪ Some safety Pin

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 Construction Procedure

➢ Step1: Firstly, we will collect all the necessary materials listed

on the previous page

➢ Step2: Take the aluminium can and make a small hole in the
centre of the top and bottom surfaces and fit the iron rod in it.
The can should be able to rotate freely in the rod.

➢ Step3: Now take two safety pin and fix it on the cardboard in
such a way that they hold the can about 2cm above the surface
of cardboard.

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 ➢ Step4: Fix the Cylindrical magnet to DC Motor as shown below.

➢ Step5: Make a stand for Motor and fix it strongly on cardboard.

And make Sure there should be at least 0.5cm gap between Magnet
(fixed in motor) and Aluminium can, As shown in second picture.

➢ Step6: Fix Battery and Switch on the cardboard and Connect them
to Motor. Now this working model project is ready to test.

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 WORKING

This project works on the combined principle of eddy currents and

electromagnetic induction. A cylindrical magnet (attached to a motor)
rotates at high speed, causing a strong and varying magnetic field to
flow along the aluminium can, generating small electrical currents
(due to EMI*), commonly known as Eddy Currents, on its surface.
And this Eddy Current produces a small magnetic field on the surface
of the aluminium can (due to magnetic effect of electric current *), which
further interacts with the magnetic field of the cylindrical magnet,
resulting the aluminium can to rotate rapidly without any physical
contact.

 Electromagnetic Induction (EMI): Electromagnetic induction

is a phenomenon in which the relative motion between a
conductor and a magnetic field produces a potential difference
(voltage) across the conductor.

 Magnetic Effect of electric current: Magnetic Effects of

Electric Current is a phenomenon where a conductor behaves
like a magnet whenever an electric current passes through the
conductor.

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 PRECAUTIONS

✓ Do not use heavy Aluminium can, cold drink & perfume can is
ideal for this project.

✓ Use only Cylindrical magnet, as any other magnet do not work.

✓ Make sure the Aluminium can is not touching the cardboard.

✓ The distance between Magnet and Aluminium can should not be

very much or less.

✓ The orientation of Aluminium can and magnet should be very

straight.

✓ If aluminium cane is rotating very slowly, then reduce the

distance between magnet and aluminium can.

✓ All the connection should be neat and tight.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

▪ Wikipedia.com

▪ Google search engine

▪ www.YouTube.com

▪ www.elprocus.com

▪ www.magcraft.com

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