Skin effect: Metal sheet shielding varies with frequency.

• D+15+22

diagram for demo

Skin effect: Metal sheet shielding varies with frequency. This apparatus demonstrates the 'Skin effect'. The signal generator supplies a sinusoidal voltage to the first coil of wire, creating an sinusoidal magnetic field. The magnetic field penetrates the aluminum sheet. In the aluminum, if the flux phi= ASin omega*t, then the induced voltage = dphi/dt =A*omegaCos omega*t. Thus, as omega gets larger, the induced voltage in the aluminum gets larger; the resultant eddy currents get larger; the repelling B-field from the eddy currents gets larger which helps to cancel out the B-field from the first coil. The net effect is that the B-field in the aluminum dies away exponentially as it leaves the front surface. This 'Skin effect' is minimal at low frequencies (10 Hz), and most of the B-field gets through the back surface to be picked up by the second coil. At high frequencies (10KHz and higher) little of the B-field gets through and the aluminum acts as a shield. Note: See set-up sheet in file cabinet in 72 Le Conte Hall FARADAY'S LAW.

Related Demos


D+15+19 Jumping Rings with AC or DC driving D+15+0 Bar magnet induces current in a coil, shown on galvanometer. D+15+1 Oscillating magnets in coupled coils D+15+2 Elementary generator: Bar moved in magnetic field. D+15+4 Earth inductor: Coil spun in Earth's field makes voltage. D+15+6 Generator: Coil with DC commutator rotates between magnets. D+15+8 Alternator: Coil with AC commutator rotates between magnets. D+15+10 Hand-cranked AC alternator powers 120 volt lamp. D+15+11 Hand-cranked DC generator powers 120 volt lamp. D+15+12 Back EMF in a series DC motor with large flywheel. D+15+14 Eddy currents: Copper disk rotates over a spinning bar magnet. D+15+16 Damped pendulum: Swinging metal disks damped in magnetic field. D+15+20 Jumping rings: High current AC coil causes rings to jump. D+15+24 Levitator: Aluminum dish floats four inches off platform. D+15+26 Eddy currents:Small magnet slowly drops between aluminum rails. D+15+28 Eddy currents: Neodymium Magnet Drop. D+15+30 Demonstration of dependence of number of coils on induced flux D+15+35 Equivalence of large and small loops around enclosed flux D+15+40 Flux through loop. EMF depends on position of the meter? D+15+45 Magnet inserted and withdrawn from copper ring causes ring to swing D+15+50 Applet: Faraday's Electromagnetic Lab D+15+55 Applet: Faraday's Law D+15+60 Applet: Genereator D+15+65 Applet: The Falling Ring with Finite Resistance D+15+70 Applet:Visualizing Electricity and Magnetism at MIT D+15+75 Applet: Light Index