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JEE Main
Exam
JEE Main
Subject
Physics
Chapter
Magnetic Properties of Matter

JEE Main · Physics · Magnetic Properties of Matter

Two identical bar magnets are dropped simultaneously from rest...

Two identical bar magnets are dropped simultaneously from rest through two identical, very long vertical copper tubes, Tube A and Tube B. Tube A is maintained at room temperature, while Tube B is cooled to a much lower temperature using liquid nitrogen. If vAv_A and vBv_B are the respective terminal velocities reached by the magnets in Tube A and Tube B, which of the following relationships is correct?

Options

  1. AvA<vBv_A < v_B
  2. BvA=vBv_A = v_B
  3. CThe magnet in Tube B will come to a complete stop and levitate before reaching the bottom.
  4. DvA>vBv_A > v_B

Correct answer

D. vA>vBv_A > v_B

Step-by-step solution

When a magnet falls through a copper tube, it induces eddy currents that create an upward magnetic drag force. The terminal velocity is reached when this upward drag force exactly balances the downward gravitational force (mgmg).

The induced EMF is proportional to the velocity vv of the magnet. The induced eddy current II is given by I=EMFRI = \dfrac{\text{EMF}}{R}, where RR is the electrical resistance of the copper tube. Thus, the upward drag force Fdrag∝I∝vRF_{drag} \propto I \propto \dfrac{v}{R}.

At terminal velocity, Fdrag=mgF_{drag} = mg. Therefore, vR\dfrac{v}{R} must be a constant for a given magnet and tube geometry. This implies that the terminal velocity vv is directly proportional to the resistance RR of the tube (v∝Rv \propto R).

Copper is a metallic conductor, so its electrical resistance decreases as temperature decreases. Since Tube B is at a much lower temperature than Tube A, its resistance is lower (RB<RAR_B < R_A).

Because v∝Rv \propto R and RB<RAR_B < R_A, it follows that the terminal velocity in Tube B will be lower than in Tube A. Therefore, vA>vBv_A > v_B.

Answer: vA>vBv_A > v_B
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