Modeling damped oscillations of a simple pendulum due to magnetic braking

Abstract

Using Tracker, a popular video-based physics modeling tool, the position-time data of magnetically damped oscillations of a simple pendulum are acquired. Eddy currents are generated on an aluminum sheet as the magnetic pendulum bob passes over it and the induced magnetic field opposes that of the magnetic bob. This causes the damping. A satisfactory match between the theoretical model and the experimental data having been observed, this study presented is seen to afford an insightful and exciting demonstration or experiment on damped oscillations in introductory classical mechanics and on Lenz’s law in introductory electrodynamics.