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What are Eddy Currents Definition, Eddy Current Loss, Application, FAQs

What are Eddy Currents Definition, Eddy Current Loss, Application, FAQs

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Jul 2025, 05:04 PM IST

In this article we are going to learn about Eddy current , eddy current definition, eddy current losses, application of eddy current , advantages of eddy current , disadvantages of eddy current, eddy current loss formula and many more.
Note: Eddy current definition in hindi is भंवर धारा

What are Eddy Currents Definition, Eddy Current Loss, Application, FAQs
What are Eddy Currents Definition

What is Eddy Current/What is meant by eddy current?

When the magnetic flux coupled to the coil changes, induced electromotive force is produced in the coil.

Eddy currents get their name from the fact that they resemble eddies or whirlpools.

Eddy currents are the induced currents that occur when a conductor is placed in a changing magnetic field.

Also read -

Eddy current definition

It can be defined as follows:

According to Faraday's law of induction, eddy currents are the loops of currents that are induced because of the varying magnetic field in the conductor.

The flow of Eddy Currents

The flow of eddy current is perpendicular to the magnetic field inside the conductor.

Principle of Eddy Currents/ Eddy current testing principle:

The Foucault current is another name for an eddy current.

Eddy currents are electric current swirls that are induced within conductors by a changing magnetic field (self-inductance).

The principle of Eddy current is based on Faraday's law of induction.

Self-inductance is how the Eddy Current Principle operates.

It's worth noting that a time-varying magnetic field formed by an AC electromagnet or transformer can cause Eddy currents within neighbouring static conductors.

For example, a magnet and a conductor can move relative to one other (Eddy Current Aluminium).

Eddy Current Magnetic Field

Eddy currents, also known as Foucault's currents, flow in streams where the streams surrounding the conductors pivot in whirls.

The growth of closed rings at a vertical position to the magnetic field's plane is reproduced by fluctuating magnetic fields and development in closed rings (Eddy Current Magnet).

Eddy current flow can occur when a conductor moves through the magnetic field or when the magnetic field that surrounds the stationary channel varies.

This means that everything that occurs in the conductor is subjected to a change in the magnetic field's direction or intensity, which causes the circling current to flow.

The size of this current is proportional to the magnitude of the magnetic field, the circle cross-sectional region, and the flux in the transition, as well as the conductor's resistivity.

This is the Eddy Current Principle at its most basic level.

According to Lenz's law, a swirling or Eddy current creates a magnetic field that opposes the change in the magnetic field that created it, and Eddy Current (whirlpool flows) responds back to the magnetic field's source.

Because of the eddy current created in the surface by the moving magnetic field, a nearby conductive surface will impart a drag force to a moving magnet that opposes its progress.

Related Topics Link,

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What are eddy currents?
A:
Eddy currents are circular electric currents induced within conducting materials when they are exposed to a changing magnetic field. These currents flow in closed loops within the conductor, perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field.
Q: How are eddy currents created?
A:
Eddy currents are created when a conductor experiences a change in magnetic flux. This can occur when a conductor moves through a stationary magnetic field, when a magnetic field moves across a stationary conductor, or when the strength of a magnetic field changes over time near a conductor.
Q: What is Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, and how does it relate to eddy currents?
A:
Faraday's law states that a changing magnetic field induces an electromotive force (EMF) in a conductor. This EMF causes eddy currents to flow within the conductor. The magnitude of the induced EMF is proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic flux through the conductor.
Q: What is the direction of eddy currents relative to the magnetic field?
A:
Eddy currents flow in closed loops perpendicular to the direction of the changing magnetic field. Their direction is such that they create a magnetic field that opposes the change in the external magnetic field, following Lenz's law.
Q: What is Lenz's law, and how does it apply to eddy currents?
A:
Lenz's law states that the direction of an induced current is such that it creates a magnetic field that opposes the change causing it. For eddy currents, this means they generate a magnetic field that opposes the change in the external magnetic field, resulting in a braking effect on the relative motion between the conductor and the magnetic field.

Some of the applications of Eddy Current:-

Eddy current and its application can be listed as follows:

(1)-The metal to be heated is put in a rapidly fluctuating magnetic field produced by high-frequency alternating current in an induction furnace.

Strong eddy currents form in the metal, generating so much heat that it melts.

This method is used to extract metals from their ore.

The induction furnace is a device that heats metal using a high-intensity induced current.

(2)-Eddy currents can be employed to rotate the rotor in an induction motor.

Eddy currents are formed when a metallic cylinder (or rotor) is placed in a spinning magnetic field.

These currents tend to reduce relative motion between the cylinder and the field, according to Lenz's law.

As a result, the cylinder begins to rotate in the field's direction.

Induction motion works on this concept.

(3)-In an induction motor, eddy currents can be used to rotate the rotor. When a metallic cylinder (or rotor) is placed in a spinning magnetic field, eddy currents develop. These currents reduce the relative motion by rotating the axle in the same direction as the direction of the magnetic field.

Then the cylinder starts to rotate in the direction of the field. This is how eddy current induction motion works.

These are the uses of eddy current class 12/advantages of eddy current class 12.

Also Read:

Eddy current loss in transformer

It is basically I2R loss that is present in the core. Eddy current loss is directly proportional to the conductivity of the core.

eddy current loss formula

Pe=Kf2B2mt2V

Where,

K- Coefficient of eddy current

f- Frequency of reversal field in Hz

Bm-Maximum value of flux density

t-Thickness of the laminator in meter

V- Volume of magnetic material in m3

These are the information included in eddy current pdf.

Also check-

NEET Highest Scoring Chapters & Topics
This ebook serves as a valuable study guide for NEET exams, specifically designed to assist students in light of recent changes and the removal of certain topics from the NEET exam.
Download E-book

NCERT Physics Notes:

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What is magnetic damping, and how do eddy currents contribute to it?
A:
Magnetic damping is the reduction of oscillations or motion in a system due to the interaction between a conductor and a magnetic field. Eddy currents contribute to magnetic damping by creating a force that opposes the motion of the conductor through the magnetic field, converting kinetic energy into heat.
Q: How do eddy current losses affect the efficiency of electrical devices?
A:
Eddy current losses reduce the efficiency of electrical devices by converting useful electrical energy into wasted heat energy. This can lead to decreased performance, increased power consumption, and potential overheating of the device.
Q: What factors influence the strength of eddy currents?
A:
The strength of eddy currents depends on several factors, including:
Q: How can eddy current losses be reduced in electrical devices?
A:
Eddy current losses can be reduced by:
Q: How do eddy currents affect the magnetic properties of materials?
A:
Eddy currents can affect the magnetic properties of materials by:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the principle behind eddy current retarders used in heavy vehicles?
A:
Eddy current retarders in heavy vehicles work by:
Q: What is the relationship between eddy currents and the conductivity of a material?
A:
The strength of eddy currents is directly proportional to the electrical conductivity of the material. Higher conductivity materials allow for stronger eddy currents, resulting in greater energy losses but also enabling more effective use in applications like eddy current brakes or induction heating.
Q: How do eddy currents contribute to the losses in high-frequency transformers?
A:
In high-frequency transformers, eddy currents:
Q: What is the principle behind eddy current displacement sensors?
A:
Eddy current displacement sensors work by generating a high-frequency magnetic field that induces eddy currents in a nearby conductive target. The strength of these eddy currents depends on the distance between the sensor and the target. By measuring changes in the sensor's magnetic field caused by the eddy currents, the distance to the target can be determined with high precision.
Q: How do eddy currents affect the performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines?
A:
In MRI machines, eddy currents:
Q: What is the difference between classical and anomalous eddy current losses?
A:
Classical eddy current losses occur in homogeneous materials and can be calculated using standard electromagnetic theory. Anomalous eddy current losses are additional losses that occur in magnetic materials due to domain wall motion and other complex magnetic phenomena. Anomalous losses are often significant in electrical steels and must be accounted for in device design.
Q: How do eddy currents affect the operation of electromagnetic flowmeters?
A:
In electromagnetic flowmeters:
Q: What is the principle behind eddy current crack detection in aircraft maintenance?
A:
Eddy current crack detection in aircraft maintenance works by:
Q: How do eddy currents affect the performance of superconducting magnets?
A:
In superconducting magnets:
Q: What is the relationship between eddy currents and the magnetic Reynolds number?
A:
The magnetic Reynolds number is a dimensionless quantity that relates the strength of magnetic advection to magnetic diffusion in a conducting fluid. Higher magnetic Reynolds numbers indicate stronger eddy current effects, which can lead to magnetic field lines being "frozen" into the fluid motion.
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