Magnet Falls Slowly Through Copper Pipe
Magnet falls surprisingly slowly.
Teaching & key ideas
What you do: Drop magnet and same-size metal slug through tube.
What students see: Magnet falls surprisingly slowly.
Why it works: Moving magnetic field induces currents whose magnetic field opposes the motion.
Question to ask: Why does copper slow a magnet without touching it?
Lesson flow
Predict → demonstrate → observe → briefly explain → ask: Why does copper slow a magnet without touching it?