Development of Two Laboratory Experiments for Teaching Electrodynamic Forces in an Advanced Course in Electromechanical Systems

In this paper, two experiments on electrodynamic forces designed for students on an advanced course in electromechanical systems are proposed. Details are first given for an experiment involving a pendulum system whose damping is controlled by the electrodynamic forces that are induced in a conducting plate. The pendulum system is modelled using Maxwell's equations and experimental results obtained from the system are compared with those estimated from the model developed. A second experiment is also presented, consisting of a magnetic levitation system where electrodynamic forces are induced in a moving conducting plate by two permanent magnets, resulting in lifting and drag forces on them. These two components of the electrodynamic forces, the lifting and drag forces, are analysed based on the magnetic field distribution, also verifying their dependence on plate speed and lifting height.