How does an eddy current brake work?

When it moves past the stationary magnet, the magnet exerts a drag force on the metal which opposes its motion, due to circular electric currents called eddy currents induced in the metal by the magnetic field. ... The brake does not work by the simple attraction of a ferromagnetic metal to the magnet. read more

Eddy current brake in action: Watch how this children's horse slows down as it reaches the eddy-current brake at the end of the track. Eddy current exercise machine: Another interesting application of eddy current brakes: providing varying amounts of resistance in an electronically controlled exercise bicycle. read more

An eddy current brake, also known as an induction brake, electric brake or electric retarder, is a device used to slow or stop a moving object by dissipating its kinetic energy as heat. read more

By Lenz's law, the current swirls in such a way as to create a magnetic field opposing the change; to do this in a conductor, electrons swirl in a plane perpendicular to the magnetic field. Because of the tendency of eddy currents to oppose, eddy currents cause energy to be lost. read more