Question

In 1996, NASA performed an experiment called the Tethered Satellite experiment. In this experiment a 4.67 x 104-m length of wire was let out by the space shuttle Atlantis to generate a motional emf. The shuttle had an orbital speed of 8.55 x 103 m/s, and the magnitude of the earth's magnetic field at the location of the wire was 5.55 x 10-5 T. If the wire had moved perpendicular to the earth's magnetic field, what would have been the motional emf generated between the ends of the wire

Answer 1

The formula for induced EMF is ε = BLv

The B is the magnetic field of the earth. I will solve this problem with a value of 1 X 10-4 T for the accepted value of the earths magnetic field. However, with that said, your book may use a different value. If that is the case, this answer will be wrong, but the formula works. All you will need to to is find the value for the earth's magnetic field that your book wants you to use, and substitute for 1 X 10-4 T.

ε = BLv

ε = (1 X 10-4)(1.8 X 104)(7.8 X 103) = 14040 V

Again, if your book does not like this answer, use this equation

ε = (B)(1.8 X 104)(7.8 X 103) and just plug in a different value for B found in your text