Magnets, how do they work?

[RCA]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7ysnXH53Wo[/youtube]

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Is it because the copper is not 100% pure and might have some other metal in it?

Idk just thinking out loud....

[Razi]

Nope.
It says in the video description.
It has to do with Lenz's law.

[alms24sebring]

I bet if it were horizontal it would float in the pipe. Looks like the only reason why it falls is because of gravity overpowering the magnetic forces.

[Razi]

So if you turn a pipe sideways, it turns off gravity?
Dude, I think you deserve the Nobel Prize!

[Jesda]

Ooh, fun!

[krash]

[RCA]

What's actually happening.

The movement of the magnet induces an electric current in the copper and with electric current comes a magnetic field, which makes the magnet attracted to it. The magnet doesn't stick to the wall as it falls because the induced current, and its corresponding magnetic field, and perfectly distributed so that the magnet feels magnetic force equally from all sides.
The magnetic field slows the magnet, but can't stop its fall because if the magnet stopped moving, the induced electric field would go away and the magnet would start falling again.
Also, magic.

Is it because the copper is not 100% pure and might have some other metal in it?

Nope that's not it.

I bet if it were horizontal it would float in the pipe. Looks like the only reason why it falls is because of gravity overpowering the magnetic forces.

Nope, not it either but your close.

This is what is happening:

• Magnets have magnetic field.
  Magnets moving over metal cause electric currents.
  Electric currents have magnetic fields.
  The new magnetic field created in the copper pipe is attracted to the magnets magnetic field.
  The copper pipe's new magnetic field is distributed evenly through out the entire pipe causing the magnet to be attracted to the pipe but not to one side vs the other.
  
  The magnets movement is what is keeping it from falling at full speed. If the magnet doesn't move than their are no magnetic field and so it wouldn't be attracted to it. Also the size of the pipe will correlate how strong the magnetic field is. To thin a pipe and the effect is minimal.

[Dattebayo]

TL;DR

It's because the pipe is made of a highly conductive material, works sort of like an electromagnet.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I think it's funny stuff like this takes people so off-guard. It's neat, sure, but copper's been used for well over a century as the favorite material for winding electric motor and generator armatures because it's a very good conductor. Electric motors and generators operate on electromagnetic principles.

[bigbadberry3]

Look up magnetic braking, it's along the same effect.

[Dattebayo]

You look it up. and post something about it.

[alms24sebring]

So what you are saying is that the current it induces by moving through it is slowing it down through the pipe from the attraction, or repulsion, of magnatism.

^ Yep. Thats what rollercoasters use to launch from a stop as well (Superman)

[bigbadberry3]

You look it up. and post something about it.

Took a 4 hour 300 level E&M class for my physics degree. You look it up

[bigbadberry3]

So what you are saying is that the current it induces by moving through it is slowing it down through the pipe from the attraction, or repulsion, of magnatism.

^ Yep. Thats what rollercoasters use to launch from a stop as well (Superman)

Yup, magnets and currents can be used to accelerate as well. Ever hear of a rail gun

[frapjap]

You look it up. and post something about it.

Took a 4 hour 300 level E&M class for my physics degree. You look it up

You're a physics teacher?

[bigbadberry3]

You look it up. and post something about it.

You're a physics teacher?

It's not like I took an oath lol.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwIh5GuYBGg[/youtube]

[Jesda]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvmvxAcT_Yc[/youtube]