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It is known that birds can detect the earth's magnetic field, but the mechanism of how they do this is not known. It has been suggested that perhaps they detect a motional EMF as they fly north to south, but it turns out that the induced voltages are small compared to the voltages normally encountered in cells, so this is probably not the mechanism involved. To check this out, calculate the induced voltage for a wild goose with a wingspan of 1.2 m flying due south at 13 m/s at a point where the earth's magnetic field is 5 x 10-5 T directed downward from horizontal by 40-degrees. The expected voltage would be about:A) .50 mV

B) .25 mV
C) .60 mV
D) .060 mV
E) .78 mVI already tried .60 mV, but it was incorrect.

User Alsk
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Answer:option A = .5 mV

Step-by-step explanation:

Using the formula ;

E = BvL sin ¶

Where E = induced voltage

v= speed of the bird in metre per seconds.

L= length or span.

¶= angle between the magnetic field and the direction of motion of the bird.

B= magnetic field strength.

From the question; L = 1.2 m

v = 13 m/s, B = 5 × 10^-5 T, ¶ = 40°

Substituting the above into the equation above, we have;

E = 5× 10^-5 × 13 m/s × 1.2 m sin 40.

= 0.00050 V

= 0.50 MV.

User Aron Rotteveel
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