How Is the Resistance of a Falling Wire in a Magnetic Field Calculated?

In summary, a copper wire with a length of 9.1 cm and mass of 25 g is allowed to freely move in a wire hoop with a constant magnetic field of 1.1 T. The wire is released and reaches a constant velocity of 3.4 m/s. To find the resistance of the copper wire, one can use Lenz's Law to calculate the induced current and then use Ohm's Law to determine the resistance. A figure or diagram would be helpful in visualizing the problem.
  • #1
bchubz
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0

Homework Statement


A wire hoop is placed in front of a strong magnet, with the magnetic field B=1.1 T, pointing as shown. The strength and direction of the magnetic field are constant through the loop. The sides of the hoop have a track in which a copper wire of length 9.1 cm and mass 25 g, is allowed to move freely with negligible friction. The wire is released and allowed to fall and reaches a constant velocity of 3.4 m/s. What is the resistance of the copper wire (assuming that the resistance of the wire hoop is negligible)?

I honestly don't know where to start, I've thought about trying to do something with resistivity but we weren't given anything about area, and then it throws me the velocity and I'm not sure what to do.
 
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  • #2
It would be better if you attached a figure.
The basic premise of the problem is that the changing magnetic flux through the hoop will induce a current in the hoop and the external magnetic field will proceed to exert a force on the moving part of the hoop to slow it down---this is can be seen from Lenz's Law. Motional emf induced in such a way is directly proportional to velocity hence a terminal velocity will be reached--at that point the magnetic force will equal the weight.This way you can calculate current and then use the generalized Ohm's Law to calculate resistance.
Hope this gets you started.
 

What is a "Falling wire in B field"?

A falling wire in B field refers to a scenario where a wire is dropped or released in a magnetic field, causing it to experience a downward acceleration due to the interaction between the magnetic field and the electric current flowing through the wire.

Why does a wire fall in a B field?

A wire falls in a B field because of the Lorentz force, which is the force exerted on a charged particle by an external magnetic field. In this case, the moving electric charges in the wire experience a force that is perpendicular to both their velocity and the magnetic field, causing the wire to accelerate downward.

What factors affect the speed of a falling wire in a B field?

The speed of a falling wire in a B field depends on several factors, including the strength of the magnetic field, the amount of electric current flowing through the wire, and the resistance of the wire. A stronger magnetic field or a higher electric current will result in a faster falling speed, while a higher resistance will slow down the wire's descent.

Is a falling wire in a B field a form of freefall?

No, a falling wire in a B field is not a form of freefall. Freefall refers to the motion of an object under the sole influence of gravity, whereas a falling wire in a B field is also affected by the Lorentz force from the magnetic field. Therefore, the wire's acceleration and velocity are not solely determined by gravity.

What are the real-world applications of a falling wire in a B field?

Falling wires in B fields are commonly used in scientific experiments to study the effects of magnetic fields on moving electric charges. They also have practical applications in devices such as generators and electric motors, where the interaction between a magnetic field and a wire carrying an electric current is used to produce motion or electricity.

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