ELECTROMAGNETIC DAMPING OF A COMPOUND PENDULUM

Objective: To study the electromagnetic damping of a compound pendulum.

Introduction:
Damping plays an important role in controlling the motion of an object. It is an effect, which tends
to reduce the velocity of a moving object. A number of damping techniques are used in various
moving, oscillating and rotating systems. These techniques include conventional friction damping,
air friction damping, fluid friction damping and electromagnetic (eddy current) damping.
Electromagnetic damping is one of the most interesting damping techniques, which uses
electromagnetically induced currents to slow down the motion of a moving object without any
physical contact with the moving object.

To understand the phenomenon of electromagnetic damping, we need to know about

electromagnetic induction (discovered by Michael Faraday in 1831) and eddy currents (also known
as Foucault currents - discovered by Leon Foucault in 1851). Electromagnetic induction is a
phenomenon in which an electromotive force (emf) is induced in a conductor when it experiences
a changing magnetic field. An emf is induced when either the conductor moves across a steady
magnetic field or when the conductor is placed in a changing magnetic field. Due to this induced
emf and the conducting path available, induced currents (flow of electrons) are set up in the body
of the conductor. These induced currents are in the form of ‘eddy currents’ which are electrons
swirling within the body of the conductor like water swirling in a whirlpool (eddy).

The eddy currents swirl in such a way as to create a magnetic field opposing the change in the
magnetic field experienced by the conductor in accordance with Lenz’s law. Thus the eddy
currents swirl in a plane perpendicular to the magnetic field. These eddy currents interact with the
magnetic field to produce a force, which opposes the motion of the moving conductor or object.
The damping force increases as the distance of the conductor from the magnet decreases. This
damping force is also proportional to the strength of the magnetic field and the induced eddy
currents and hence the velocity of the object. Thus faster the object moves the stronger is the
damping force. This means that as the object slows down, the damping force is reduced, resulting
in a smooth stopping motion.
In this experiment, a magnet is attached to a
compound pendulum and a metal sheet(plate) is
placed at a certain distance from the magnet. The
metal sheet should be placed in such a way that it
is parallel to the plane of oscillation and Magnet Copper plate
perpendicular to the length of the magnet as shown
in Figure 1. While the pendulum oscillates, the Mirror

magnetic flux passing through the metal will

change and induce eddy current in the metal plate.

Apparatus

Compound pendulum with a pointer, tripod stand,

set of magnets, copper plate with holder, mirror,
graph paper to mark position of pointer, stop-
watch.

Fig. 1: Experimental set up

Theory

Consider a compound pendulum pivoted about a horizontal frictionless axis

through P and displaced from its equilibrium position by an angle θ (see Fig.
2). In the equilibrium position the center of gravity G of the body is vertically
below P. The distance GP is L, the mass of the body is m and I is the moment
of inertia of the body through the axis P. Then the equation of motion for
l
small amplitude oscillation is given by

𝐼 θ = −𝑚𝑔𝐿𝜃 … … (1)

Thus the solution of Eq. 1 becomes,

θ  θ 0 sin 0 t  … …. (2)

Fig. 2: Compound Pendulum
mgL
where θ 0 is the maximum angular amplitude, 0 = 2π/ T0 = . So time period for free
I
oscillation of the pendulum is given by

I
T0  2π … … (3)
mgL
When the oscillation is damped due to any resistance in the path such as friction or eddy current
etc, the damping force exerted at the free end of the rod is directly proportional to velocity, v, of
the free end. Let γ be the constant of proportionality called the damping coefficient. Then this force
can be written as

F= -γv = - γlω … … (4)

where l= actual length of the rod between P and O, ω= angular velocity and the negative sign
indicates that the force is always directed opposite to the velocity. Then the torque is given by

l F   l 2    l 2 θ … … (5)
Thus the equation of motion for a damped oscillation is given by

Iθ   mgLθ   l 2θ … … (6)

The solution of this modified equation is

𝜃=𝜃 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔 𝑡) … … (7)

2I
where τ  , is called the decay constant and 𝜔 is the angular frequency of damped oscillation.
 l2
Thus, θ becomes maximum (but < θ0 due to the exponential decay function in Eq. 7), for 𝜔 𝑡 =
2𝑛𝜋, where n= 0, 1, 2… If T1 is the time period of this damped oscillator, then it attains maximum
displacement at times, t = nT1 . Hence the maximum displacement of the pendulum decreases
exponentially with time as given by the following equation:

𝜃 =𝜃 𝑒 … … (8)

Equation 8 can be rewritten in terms of an equation of a straight line as follows:

θmax xn
ln ≈ ln =- n … … (9)
θ0 x0 τ

where x0 is the initial and xn is the final linear amplitude after n oscillations. Knowing τ from the
slope of the straight line, the damping coefficient can be calculated as

2 I
γ= … … (10)
𝝉𝒍𝟐

Procedure

1. The compound pendulum is mounted on a tripod stand with a two pin pivot arrangement.
Make sure that the pendulum does not slip from the pivot.
 2. Fix the magnet to the pendulum using adhesive tapes.
3. Place a mirror vertically very close to the pin attached to the pendulum as a pointer. Adjust
the position so that the image of the tip of the pin can be seen in the mirror avoiding parallax
error. A graph sheet is pasted on the mirror to mark and note the linear amplitudes of the
pendulum. Mark the equilibrium position on the graph sheet.
4. Place the copper plate at a distance, say about 15 mm, so that the plane of the copper plate
is perpendicular to the axis of the magnets (see Fig.1).
5. Measure the time period for 10 oscillations by using a stop watch provided. Repeat it for 3
to 5 times to find the average time period of oscillation.
6. Displace the pendulum from the mean position to a position of initial amplitude, x 0 (say
about 20mm), and then leave it to oscillate. Note the final amplitude after 2 oscillations.
Repeat it for at least three times, and then find the average value of x 2.
7. Repeat the above step for 4, 6, 8, 10 oscillations keeping the initial position fixed.
8. Fill up the observation table and plot a graph between the number of oscillations,
ln 𝑣𝑠 𝑛. Determine the slope using straight line fit and find decay time τ.
x0
9. Finally, calculate the damping co-efficient ‘γ’ using the given values of I and l.
10. Remove the copper plate, oscillate the pendulum and observe the amplitude damping due
to air resistance and friction. What do you observe? Is there any significant damping?

Observations

Given: Moment of inertia of the supplied rod, I = 0.0235 kgm2

Length of the rod, l = 0.61m

Table 1: Time period of damped oscillation

d = ……

Sl. Time for 10 Time period T1 Average time period T1

No. Oscillations (sec) (sec) (sec)
1
2
3
4
5
Table 2: Measurement of amplitude with damping

x0 = ……. mm

No. of Sl. No. xn xn/x0 ln (xn/x0)

Oscillations (mm)
(n)
2 1
2
3
4 4
5
6
6 7
8
9
8 10
11
12
10 13
14
15

Time period of pendulum with out copper

Graph: Plot ln 𝑣𝑠 𝑛 and straight line fit to determine slope and intercept, error in slope
x0
and intercept.

Calculations: τ = ……

Δτ = ….

γ = …..

Δγ = …..

Precautions:

1. Avoid parallax error while noting the amplitude.

2. Mark the amplitude carefully on the graph sheet pasted on the mirror without disturbing
the set up.