Force to move a bar in a magnetic field

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QuarkCharmer
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Homework Statement


I made this image to illustrate:
r26d5g.jpg


A rod with resistance R lies across frictionless conducting rails in a constant uniform magnetic field B. Assume the rails have negligible resistance. The magnitude of the force that must be applied by a person to pull the rod to the right at a constant speed v is:

Homework Equations


[tex]E = -\frac{d \phi}{dt}[/tex]
Plus any of maxwells equations et al.

The Attempt at a Solution



From what I figure, as the bar moves to the right, the magnetic flux will be increasing, and so, the current in the loop will produce a field opposing the change. This B field would be coming out of the screen/page, so the current must be going counter clockwise.

Now,
[tex] \Phi = B \dot A\\<br /> A = Lx\\<br /> \Phi = BLxcos(\theta)\\[/tex]

But theta (angle between area vector and B is 0:

[tex] \Phi = BLx[/tex]

The velocity of the bar is basically in x per seconds, so I think I can say that basically x is time. That way, I can differentiate the flux as so:

[tex] \Phi = BLx\\<br /> \frac{d\Phi}{dt} = BL\\[/tex]

Now, E in the loop will equal negative BL since:
[tex]E = -\frac{d\Phi}{dt}[/tex]

and so, via Ohms law, the current in the loop is:
[tex] V=IR\\<br /> I=\frac{V}{R}\\<br /> I = \frac{-BL}{R}\\[/tex]

Then, by the equation of the Lorentz force:
[tex] F_{B} =I(L×B)\\<br /> F_{B} = ILBsin(\theta)\\[/tex]

But theta here is 90 degrees, and sin(90) = 1,

So I think the "opposing" force on the bar due to it moving and increasing the flux through the loop is equal to ILB.

So at least a force of ILB is required to move the bar to the right, and with a force of ILB, the bar will remain still. So now I am lost.

What's the next step? I know the solution but I need to figure this out myself.
 
Last edited:
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I forgot this part:

Since:
[tex]I = \frac{-BL}{R}\\[/tex]

and

[tex]F = ILB[/tex]

Then:
[tex]F = -\frac{B^{2}L^{2}}{R}[/tex]

Which is almost the answer I need, it's definitely the force to the left. So to pull it to the right I need to put that force.

There should be a v in that equation though, and I don't see how.
 
Well you have [itex]\Phi = BLx[/itex] so [itex]\frac{\mathrm{d}\Phi }{\mathrm{d} t} = BL\frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{d} t} = Blv[/itex]. So there's your v.
 
WannabeNewton said:
Well you have [itex]\Phi = BLx[/itex] so [itex]\frac{\mathrm{d}\Phi }{\mathrm{d} t} = BL\frac{\mathrm{d} x}{\mathrm{d} t} = Blv[/itex] as per the chain rule. So there's your v.

Ah, I see. Idk what I was thinking with this sentence:

"The velocity of the bar is basically in x per seconds, so I think I can say that basically x is time. That way, I can differentiate the flux as so:"Thanks