Missing minus sign - Motional EMF

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating induced voltages in a system involving a current-carrying conductor and a moving conducting triangle. The user successfully calculated the voltages V_Q-V_P and V_P-V_R but encountered an issue with a missing minus sign in the induced voltage V_Q-V_R. They derived the induced voltage using the formula ε = ∫(v × B) · dl, but their final expression included a negative sign that was not present in the expected answer. The correct approach involves recognizing the direction of the cross product and the appropriate integration limits without the negative sign. The user seeks clarification on the equations and reasoning behind the correct answer provided.
Nick89
Messages
553
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


An infinitely long conductor carrying a current I in the positive z-direction lies on the z-axis.
A conducting triangle of wires lies in the yz-plane, which moves with a speed v in the positive y-direction.
The following figure shows the situation on time t = 0:
5o8qcj.jpg


a) Calculate the induced voltages V_Q-V_P and V_P-V_R on t=0.
I got this, no problem.

b) Calculate the induced voltage V_Q-V_R on time t=0.
Hint: First calculate the induced voltage on a little segment dl and notice that dl = \sqrt{dz^2 + dy^2} = \sqrt{2} dy.

Homework Equations


\epsilon = \int (\vec{v} \times \vec{B}) \cdot \vec{dl}
B = \frac{ \mu_0 I}{2 \pi y} (at a distance y, in the negative x-direction (into the screen)

The Attempt at a Solution


I got the answer right apart from a minus sign...

I first checked the direction of the crossproduct v*B and got it to be in the positive z-direction.
Dot product with dl is then
( \vec{v} \times \vec{B} ) \cdot \vec{dl} = vB \, dl \cos \theta = vB \, dl cos(135) = -\frac{1}{2} \sqrt{2} vB \, dl
Because dl is pointing from Q to R, the angle is 90 + 45 = 135, right?

Then:
\epsilon = -\frac{1}{2} \sqrt{2} \int_a^{2a} B v dl = -\frac{1}{2} \sqrt{2} \int_a^{2a} \frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi y} v \sqrt{2} dy = - \frac{\mu_0 I v}{2 \pi} \int_a^{2a} \frac{dy}{y} = - \frac{\mu_0 I v}{2 \pi} \ln{2}

As I said, the answer is correct apart from the minus sign... Where did I go wrong?The answer I am given is this exactly:
d \epsilon = v \frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi y} \frac{1}{2}\sqrt{2} dl
V_Q-V_R = \int_a^{2a}\frac{\mu_0 I v}{2 \pi y} dy = \frac{ \mu_0 I v}{2 \pi } \ln{2}
That's all, nothing more... I can't quite figure out what they are doing, which equations they are using...
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top