"At the junkyard, an electromagnet holds a 1 ton car freely in the air (no acceleration exc. gravity). Assuming 100% power efficiency, how many Watt electrical power are needed?" - I know that the magnet produces 10,000 N, but in order to get the 𝑊, I'd need some velocity (W = Nm/s), and I don't see any m/s?

Jadiel Yates

Jadiel Yates

Answered question

2022-11-24

"At the junkyard, an electromagnet holds a 1 ton car freely in the air (no acceleration exc. gravity). Assuming 100% power efficiency, how many Watt electrical power are needed?" - I know that the magnet produces 10,000 N, but in order to get the 𝑊, I'd need some velocity (W = Nm/s), and I don't see any m/s?

Answer & Explanation

Karly Donovan

Karly Donovan

Beginner2022-11-25Added 5 answers

There is no Work being done as the applied force on the car does not result in it's motion. However there will be power draw in real life electromagnets due to electrical resistance in the coil windings. In your case you defined 100% power efficiency which would be interpreted as zero resistance wires--you are effectively describing a permanent magnet here (i.e. a magnet that consumes no added electrical energy to work) which I would suggest is an intuitive way to understand that no Work is being done. Long story short, a 100% power efficiency electromagnet does not need any electrical power to lift that car, or any ferromagnetic object for that matter!

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