The Effect of Electric Fields In A Classic Introductory Physics Treatment of Eddy Current Forces

Abstract

A simple model of eddy currents in which current is computed solely from magnetic forces acting on electrons proves accessible to introductory students and gives a good qualitative account of eddy current forces. However, this model cannot be complete; it ignores the electric fields that drive current outside regions of significant magnetic field. In this paper we show how to extend the model to obtain a boundary value problem for current density. Solution of this problem in polar coordinates shows that the electric field significantly affects the quantitative results and presents an exercise suitable for upper division students. We apply elliptic cylindrical coordinates to generalize the result and offer an exercise useful for teaching graduate students how to use non-standard coordinate systems.