Resisting Motion with Eddy Currents

This experiment explores the fascinating phenomenon of magnetic damping, where motion is resisted through magnetic fields without direct contact. These fields are produced by electric currents induced by changing fields, known as ‘eddy currents’. Magnetic suspension systems, such as those used in maglev trains, use the interaction of magnetic fields to levitate and stabilize objects. But how do these systems work? For example, why does a current flow in the secondary winding of a transformer without any direct contact with voltage source? And how do modern transportation systems, like trains and roller coasters, generate braking forces without having any physical contact? The source of these damping effects is the heating due to the so-called eddy currents.