eddy current

eddy current [′ed·ē ‚kə·rənt]

(electromagnetism)

An electric current induced within the body of a conductor when that conductor either moves through a nonuniform magnetic field or is in a region where there is a change in magnetic flux. Also known as Foucault current.

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Eddy current

An electric current induced within the body of a conductor when that conductor either moves through a nonuniform magnetic field or is in a region where there is a change in magnetic flux. It is sometimes called Foucault current. Although eddy currents can be induced in any electrical conductor, the effect is most pronounced in solid metallic conductors. Eddy currents are utilized in induction heating and to damp out oscillations in various devices.

It is possible to reduce the eddy currents by laminating the conductor, that is, by building the conductor of many thin sheets that are insulated from each other rather than making it of a single solid piece. The laminations do not reduce the induced emfs, but if they are properly oriented to cut across the paths of the eddy currents, they confine the currents largely to single laminae, where the paths are long, making higher resistance.

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Eddy current

An electric current induced within the body of a conductor when that conductor either moves through a nonuniform magnetic field or is in a region where there is a change in magnetic flux. It is sometimes called Foucault current. Although eddy currents can be induced in any electrical conductor, the effect is most pronounced in solid metallic conductors. Eddy currents are utilized in induction heating and to damp out oscillations in various devices.

It is possible to reduce the eddy currents by laminating the conductor, that is, by building the conductor of many thin sheets that are insulated from each other rather than making it of a single solid piece. The laminations do not reduce the induced emfs, but if they are properly oriented to cut across the paths of the eddy currents, they confine the currents largely to single laminae, where the paths are long, making higher resistance. See Core loss