 Solution

In a homogeneous Ohmic conductor, $\mathbf{J}=\sigma \mathbf{E}$. Combining this with Maxwell's equations givesFor a good conductor, $\sigma \gg \omega ϵ$, so conduction dominates displacement current. With time dependence $e^{-i\omega t}$ and depth $z>0$, take $E\propto e^{ikz}$. ThenThe field is consequently proportional to $e^{-z/\delta }{e}^{iz/\delta }$: it both attenuates and changes phase with depth. The skin depth is the distance for amplitude to fall by $e^{-1}$; power density falls as $e^{-2z/\delta }$, so its attenuation length is $\delta /2$.

Physically, changing fields induce currents whose magnetic field opposes penetration. Equivalently, after neglecting displacement current, magnetic diffusion obeys ${\partial }_t\mathbf{B}=(\mu \sigma {)}^{-1}{\nabla }^2\mathbf{B}$. Faster changes have less time to diffuse into the metal. Increasing frequency, conductivity or magnetic permeability reduces $\delta$, provided the relevant material parameters remain applicable.

For a thick conductor the tangential surface electrical impedance is $Z_s=(1-i)/(\sigma \delta )$ with the stated time convention and consistent field orientation. Its real part $1/(\sigma \delta )$ represents dissipative resistance per square. Current crowding near the surface raises the AC resistance of a wire when $\delta$ is small compared with its radius; thin strands and laminated magnetic cores reduce suitable eddy-current losses. When $\sigma /\gg \omega ϵ$, the full complex propagation constant must replace the good-conductor approximation. In a magnetic metal the magnetic permeability can itself be nonlinear and frequency dependent.