Past exam of the physics B course of the University of Cambridge 2015 Paper 1 Section A A4 Solution 2026-10-20
The varying magnetic flux through the ring induces an electromotive force by Faraday's law of induction. Its direction follows Lenz's law. With solenoid current , ring current , ring self-inductance , electrical resistance , and mutual inductance ,The ring sits in a nonuniform magnetic field: coupling decreases above the solenoid, so and with a common orientation for the two windings. For , the in-phase part of the induced ring current is negative:Thus alternating-current induction levitation can balance the ring's weight when . A falling mean lifting force with height supplies vertical stability. In the strongly inductive limit the two currents are almost opposite: the ring repels the solenoid during both half cycles. Finite self-inductance matters; an ideal purely resistive loop would carry a current exactly in quadrature with and give zero average force in this model. The source supplies the Joule heating in the real ring, and any mechanical work while it rises.