Hat current is needed to provide a modest 40 kN force? plug and chug

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the current required to generate a force of 40 kN using an electric train design that utilizes Earth's magnetic field. The correct formula for current is I = F/(L*E-5), where F is the force (40,000 N), L is the axle length (3.0 m), and E is the vertical component of Earth's magnetic field (10 µT). The calculated current is approximately 1.3333E9 Amps. Additionally, the power loss for each ohm of resistance in the rails is calculated using P = I^2, resulting in approximately 1.77778e18 Watts.

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mr_coffee
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Consider the possibility of a new design for an electric train. The engine is driven by the force on a conducting axle due to the vertical component of Earth's magnetic field. Current is down one rail, through a conducting wheel, through the axle, through another conducting wheel, and then back to the source via the other rail.
a) What current is needed to provide a modest 40 kN force? Take the vertical component of Earth's field to be 10 µT and the length of the axle to be 3.0 m.

b) How much power would be lost for each ohm of resistance in the rails?

THe professor gave us the formula for this one and yet it didn't work, did I mess up somthing else?
He said for part a, use the following formula:
F = I*L*E-5;
I = F/(L*E-5);
I = 4000/(3*E-5);
I = 1.3E8

I don't know why its E-5 but i also tried E-6 and still didn't work...

and for part b he said to use
P = I^2;

But really I just need to find out why part A isn't working! Thanks! :bugeye:
 
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F=iLB=i(3)(10E-6)
F=(30E-6)i
i=40000/(30E-6)=1.3333E9 Amps

This was the right answer for me...

and
P=i^2*R
i^2=(1.333E9)^2=1.77778e18 Watts
 
mr_coffee said:
What current is needed to provide a modest 40 kN force?
b) How much power would be lost for each ohm of resistance in the rails?
mr_coffee said:
I = F/(L*E-5);
I = 4000/(3*E-5);

[tex]40kN \neq 4000 N[/tex]

~H

[Edit] Sorry didnt see Schrödinger's post
 
Last edited:

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