Question

We can model a lightning bolt as a very long, straight wire. If a lightning bolt carries a current of 30 kA, and you are unfortunate enough to be 8.9 m away from the lightning bolt, how large of a magnetic field do you experience

Answer 1

Magnetic field experienced = 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ T

Step-by-step explanation:

The magnetic field around an infinite straight current-carrying wire at a distance r from the wire is given by

B = (μ₀I)/(2πr)

B = ?

I = 20 KA = 20000 A

r = 8.9 m

μ₀ = magnetic permeability = 1.257 × 10⁻⁶ T.m/A

B = (1.257 × 10⁻⁶ × 20000)/(2π×8.9) = 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ T