Question

In 1996, NASA performed an experiment called the Tethered Satellite experiment. In this experiment a 3.42 x 104-m length of wire was let out by the space shuttle Atlantis to generate a motional emf. The shuttle had an orbital speed of 6.80 x 103 m/s, and the magnitude of the earth's magnetic field at the location of the wire was 6.56 x 10-5 T. If the wire had moved perpendicular to the earth's magnetic field, what would have been the motional emf generated between the ends of the wire

Answer 1

Answer:

15116.4 V

Explanation:

B = Earth's magnetic field at the location = $6.5\times 10^{-5}\ T$

L = Length of the wire = $3.42\times 10^4\ m$

v = Velocity of the shuttle = $6.8\times 10^8\ m/s$

The emf generated is given by

$E=BLv\\\Rightarrow E=6.5\times 10^{-5}\times 3.42\times 10^{4}\times 6.8\times 10^3\\\Rightarrow E=15116.4\ V$

The motional emf generated between the ends of the wire is 15116.4 V