In: Physics
In the "Drop Zone" ride at Canada's Wonderland, riders are dropped from a great height and then decelerated safely to a stop before hitting the ground. One possible technological application of Faraday's principle and Lenz's law is the ride's braking mechanism. If the ride is simulated by dropping a magnet with the north side down into an open copper pipe,
a) What is the direction of current flow in the pipe?
b) What is the direction of the induced magnetic field?
c) Why does this situation result in decreased acceleration of the magnet/ride? Explain well.
d) Would this situation be any different if the south end of the magnet was dropped down instead? Explain.
The main question I am stuck on is part d - especially the explanation.