Question

A delivery truck with 2.8m high aluminum sides is driving west at 75km/hr in a region where Earth's magnetic field is (5x105 T, north). a) What is the potential difference between the top and the bottom of the truck's side panels? b) Will the tops of the panels be positive or negative relative to the bottoms?

Answer 1

The potential difference between the top and bottom of the truck's side panels can be calculated using Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. The tops of the panels will be positive relative to the bottoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, the potential difference between the top and bottom of the truck's side panels can be determined using Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. The formula for induced emf is given by the product of the magnetic field strength, the length of the conductor, and the relative velocity between the conductor and the magnetic field. Since the truck is moving west while the magnetic field is north, the relative velocity is the horizontal component of the truck's velocity, which is 75 km/hr. Converting this to m/s, we get 20.83 m/s.

Therefore, the potential difference between the top and bottom of the truck's side panels can be calculated as follows:

Induced emf = magnetic field strength x length of conductor x relative velocity

Emf = (5x10^5 T) x (2.8 m) x (20.83 m/s)

Emf = 2.32 x 10^7 V

Since the magnetic field is pointing towards the north, the tops of the panels will be positive relative to the bottoms.

Answer 2

The potential difference between the top and bottom of the truck's side panels can be calculated using V = B * v * h. The tops of the panels will be positive relative to the bottoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to determine the potential difference between the top and the bottom of the truck's side panels, we can use the formula:

V = B * v * h

Where V is the potential difference, B is the magnitude of Earth's magnetic field, v is the velocity of the truck, and h is the height of the aluminum sides. Plugging in the values, we get:

V = (5x105 T) * (75 km/hr) * (2.8 m)

Calculating this value will give us the potential difference between the top and the bottom of the truck's side panels.

Since the truck is driving west, the tops of the panels will be positive relative to the bottoms. This is because the truck's motion creates an induced current in the aluminum sides, and according to Lenz's Law, the induced current will oppose the magnetic field. So the tops of the panels will be positive, creating a potential difference between the top and bottom.