Understanding the Fundamentals of Eddy Currents: Explained Simply

AI Thread Summary
Eddy currents are generated when a conductor experiences a changing magnetic field, leading to circulating currents within the material. In braking systems, these currents create energy loss due to resistance, functioning similarly to a short-circuited generator. The mechanical load from the eddy currents contributes to the braking effect, despite not resembling a traditional generator setup. This explanation clarifies the fundamental operation of eddy currents and their role in energy dissipation during braking. Understanding this concept can enhance comprehension of electromagnetic principles in practical applications.
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hi all. I understand wikipaedias explination of eddy currents but could someone please explain more fundamentaly how they work. Thanks in advance :)
 
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The Wikipedia Explanation seems pretty good. What are you not understanding?
 
could you explain how in brakes they cause energy loss at such a high rate?
 
and explain it in qed possibly.
 
The simplest way of thinking about them is to consider that a wheel that is braking is cconfigured as an electrical generator. Then imagine a short circuit across that generator and the eddy currents flow through that short circuit. The braking is then caused by the mechanical load presented by a short circuited generator.

It does not look like a generator,, because in a normal genera to we want to use the electrical supply externally.
 
thanks, i misunderstood first time i read the wiki.
 
I was using the Smith chart to determine the input impedance of a transmission line that has a reflection from the load. One can do this if one knows the characteristic impedance Zo, the degree of mismatch of the load ZL and the length of the transmission line in wavelengths. However, my question is: Consider the input impedance of a wave which appears back at the source after reflection from the load and has traveled for some fraction of a wavelength. The impedance of this wave as it...
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