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kihr
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Homework Statement
Whether a length of metallic wire, if placed in the geographic (a) east-west, and (b) north-south directions, and dropped freely from a height, would have an induced emf or not.
Homework Equations
E= - d(phi)/dt, where phi = flux intercepted by wire
The Attempt at a Solution
The magnetic field of the Earth has a vertical and a horizontal component, both of which lie on the magnetic meridian. The horizontal component (in the plane of the magnetic meridian) would further have components along the geographic N-S and E-W directions depending on the magnetic declination at the given point on the Earth's surface. Thus for (a) the falling piece of wire would cut the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field acting along the geographic N-S direction, and an emf would be induced. For (b) the wire would cut the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field acting along the geographic E-W direction, and here again an emf would be induced in the wire.
I would appreciate if the correctness of above could be confirmed. Thanks.