CALCULATORS / MAGNETICS AND INDUCTIVE DEVICES

Conductor skin depth calculator

Good-conductor electromagnetic skin depth at supplied permeability.

magnetics-skin-depth.napkin / editable

SCENARIO COMPARISON

Compare the numbers.

This source describes an analytical model. Its quantities and checks are the view.

Scenario	depthmm
	0.206288
	0.18451

All calculated quantities are listed with the inputs. Switch to Source to inspect the equations.

SCENARIOS / CALCULATED VALUESSAME SOURCE

Change an input to see the consequences.

skin depth target0.21 mm✓ passes

BASELINE INPUTS

resistivity1.68e-8 ohm*mfrequency100000 Hzpermeability0.00000125664 H/m

CALCULATED

depth0.20629 mm

Edits change the baseline source.

THE SOURCE

Edits below update the same model.

# Conductor skin depth
# Scope: Good-conductor electromagnetic skin depth at supplied permeability.
# Status: illustrative worked example; engineering review pending.
# Inputs are example values. Checks are editable example requirements, not standards.

resistivity = 0.0000000168 ohm*m
frequency = 100000 Hz
permeability = 0.0000012566370614 H/m

depth := sqrt(resistivity/(pi*frequency*permeability)) [mm]

check skin depth target: depth >= 0.1 mm

scenario alternative: resistivity = 1.344e-08 ohm*m

Calculated from your source · not saved

Baseline · Baseline

skin depth target0.21 mm ✓ passes

alternative · alternative

skin depth target0.18 mm ✓ passes

Illustrative first-order example. Checks are editable requirements, not design standards. The broader topic may require additional equations, data, and validation.

Formula and units

This example uses the following equations. Input names and units match the editable source above.

depth: depth = sqrt(resistivity/(pi*frequency*permeability)) [mm]

Original worked example

These are the baseline values in the downloadable source. Edits above let you test your own values.

Given

resistivity: 1.68e-8 ohm*m
frequency: 100000 Hz
permeability: 0.00000125664 H/m

Calculated

depth: 0.206288 mm

Assumptions and limits

Good-conductor electromagnetic skin depth at supplied permeability.

The requirement checks use the limits written in this example. Passing a check does not establish that the model covers every load, material behavior, or operating condition in a real design.

Download this .napkin example ↓

Take it further with your agent

Napkin keeps the inputs, equations, checks and assumptions together in one study. Your agent sets it up; you change the numbers.

Try with Claude ↗

codex 'Use Napkin (https://napkin.engineering/mcp, or the local Napkin plugin) to build a study: Conductor skin depth. Inputs: frequency; resistivity; permeability. Outputs: skin depth; conductor-size comparison. Model scope: Magnetic-circuit approximations with calibrated material data. Read napkin_capabilities and the current snapshot. Ask me for the values that matter, label assumptions with units, author .napkin source, validate it and apply it with napkin_source using the current revision, then open the study. Add checks for the limits I supply. Keep unsupported analyses explicit.'

Claude needs the Napkin connector; Codex needs the Napkin plugin. Set up your agent ↗

The broader study

The topic brief below describes the broader scope. The worked example above states the particular calculation it implements.

Inputs: frequency, resistivity, permeability
Outputs: skin depth, conductor-size comparison
Modes: calculate, compare, sweep
Drawing: Magnetic circuit and flux plot

EXECUTABLE WORKED EXAMPLE · FIRST-ORDER MODEL · CHECK THE SCOPE & ASSUMPTIONS