Quick Answer:The Lazy Tube Kit pairs a copper or aluminium tube with a neodymium magnet and a non-magnetic slug of equal mass: dropped through the tube, the slug falls straight through while the magnet drifts down slowly, braked by eddy currents.
Last updated: 18 October 2026
Key Features
Non-magnetic copper or aluminium tube.
Neodymium (NdFeB) permanent magnet.
Non-magnetic slug of the same mass for comparison.
Stands upright on a pedestal or is held by hand.
Shows a visible slow-motion fall.
Technical Specifications
Specification
Value
Tube
Copper or aluminium, non-magnetic
Magnet
Neodymium (NdFeB)
Comparison mass
Non-magnetic slug of equal mass
Use
Vertical, on a pedestal or hand-held
How It Is Used
The slug and the magnet are dropped through the tube in turn. The slug drops through at once, but the falling magnet induces eddy currents in the tube walls whose field opposes its motion, so it drifts down slowly at a steady speed. It is a clear demonstration of Lenz's law and eddy current braking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Lazy Tube Kit include a non-magnetic slug?
It has the same mass as the magnet, so dropping both through the tube shows that the magnet's slow fall is caused by induced currents and not by its weight or by friction.
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