Magnetic damping of a physical pendulum: a materials science insight

Abstract Magnetic damping is used in numerous industrial applications such as braking systems and sensors. This study explores the role of materials properties in the magnetic damping through the use of a physical pendulum, consisting of a magnet oscillating in front of metal plates. A webcam and video tracker software are used to capture the angular position of the pendulum over time. A Python program then fits this data to estimate the magnetic flux density generated by the magnet. These estimated values are compared with calculations performed using the calculated saturation magnetization value and the Python Magpylib package. Our study investigates how various material-related parameters, such as the electrical conductivity and thickness of the metal plates, influence the magnetic damping of the pendulum’s oscillations. The presented activities can be adapted to suit various educational levels, ranging from high school to undergraduate studies.