Past exam of the physics 2 paper of the University of Oxford / 2015 / 10 / d / Solution

At terminal velocity, the upward magnetic force balances the weight. Substitute the electric current from the preceding solution:The geometric factors cancel, givingHere $g=9.81\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{s}}^{-2}$, $B=1\mathrm{T}$, ${\rho }_m=8960\mathrm{kg}{\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$ and ${\rho }_c=1.7\times 10^{-8}\mathrm{\Omega }\mathrm{m}$. As numerical checks, the specified $a=0.08\mathrm{m}$ and $d_w=0.001\mathrm{m}$ give $M=2.252\times 10^{-3}\mathrm{kg}$, $R=6.926\times 10^{-3}\mathrm{\Omega }$ and $I_s=0.276\mathrm{A}$.

The gravitational power lost, $Mg{v}_s$, equals the Joule heating $I_s^{2}R$, consistent with energy conservation. This terminal velocity applies only while the top arm remains in the magnetic field; after it exits, the magnetic braking ceases, apart from any brief inductive transient.