---
title: "A horizontal circular conducting ring with electrical resistance \\(R\\) is dropped from rest from a position above the north pole of a fixed vertical bar magnet. As the ring falls toward the magnet, an upward magnetic force acts on the ring, causing its downward acceleration to be less than \\(g\\). Which of the following statements correctly identifies the direction of the induced current in the ring (as viewed from above) and provides the correct energy conservation explanation for this system?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118667/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T08:13:37+00:00"
---

# A horizontal circular conducting ring with electrical resistance \(R\) is dropped from rest from a position above the north pole of a fixed vertical bar magnet. As the ring falls toward the magnet, an upward magnetic force acts on the ring, causing its downward acceleration to be less than \(g\). Which of the following statements correctly identifies the direction of the induced current in the ring (as viewed from above) and provides the correct energy conservation explanation for this system?

A horizontal circular conducting ring with electrical resistance \(R\) is dropped from rest from a position above the north pole of a fixed vertical bar magnet. As the ring falls toward the magnet, an upward magnetic force acts on the ring, causing its downward acceleration to be less than \(g\). Which of the following statements correctly identifies the direction of the induced current in the ring (as viewed from above) and provides the correct energy conservation explanation for this system?

![A vertical bar magnet sits upright on a flat horizontal surface with its north pole labeled N pointing upward and south pole labeled S at the bottom. Suspended horizontally directly above the north pole is a thin circular conducting ring. A vertical arrow labeled v points downward from the center of the ring toward the north pole of the magnet. No other labels, text, or arrows appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1785831216-DYfXRf.jpg)

- **A.** Viewed from above, the induced current is clockwise to produce a downward magnetic field that opposes the increasing upward magnetic flux; gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and thermal energy dissipated in the ring.
- **B.** Viewed from above, the induced current is clockwise to produce a downward magnetic field that opposes the increasing upward magnetic flux; gravitational potential energy is converted entirely into kinetic energy, while the magnetic field creates additional energy in the system.
- **C.** Viewed from above, the induced current is counterclockwise to produce an upward magnetic field that reinforces the increasing upward magnetic flux; gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and thermal energy dissipated in the ring.
- **D.** Viewed from above, the induced current is counterclockwise to produce an upward magnetic field that attracts the ring toward the magnet; gravitational potential energy is converted entirely into kinetic energy without thermal dissipation.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/118667/*