Question

An airplane in the earth’s magnetic field can develop a voltage between its wingtips.

Find this voltage if the plane has a velocity v = 250 m/s pointing due North, the earth’s magnetic field B = 0.5 G points 30◦ below due North, and the plane’s wingspan is 20 m.


Which wingtip (left or right) is at a higher electric potential?

Answer 1

`emf=0.125\ V`

According to the Fleming's Left left hand rule we have higher potential on the right edge of the wing.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

• velocity of plane,
  `v=250\ m.s^(-1)`

• magnetic field,
  `B=5* 10^(-5)\ T`

• angle between velocity and magnetic field,
  `\theta=30^(\circ)`

• span of the wing,
  `l=20\ m`

We know:

`emf=B.l.v\ sin\theta`

`emf=5* 10^(-5)* 20* 250* sin30^(\circ)`

`emf=0.125\ V`

According to the Fleming's Left left hand rule we have higher potential on the right edge of the wing.