历届亚赛试题 (1) magnetic question.pdfVIP

Experimental Question 1: Levitation of Conductors in an Oscillating Magnetic Field In an oscillating magnetic field of sufficient strength, levitation of a metal conductor becomes possible. The levitation occurs due to a non-zero mean magnetic force exerted on currents in the conductor. The currents are induced by the alternating field itself. The Lorentz force doesn’t average to zero because of a phase shift between the current oscillations and the magnetic field oscillations. This phase shift is a result of the self-inductance of the current loops within the conductor.