Question

In 1996, NASA performed an experiment called the Tethered Satellite experiment. In this experiment a 2.84 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 5.01 x 103 m/s, and the magnitude of the earth's magnetic field at the location of the wire was 5.16 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 motional emf generated between the ends of the wire is

7341 V

Step-by-step explanation:

Given :

Length of satellite
`l = 2.84 * 10^(4)` m

Magnetic field
`B = 5.16 * 10^(-5)` T

Speed of shuttle
`v = 5.01 * 10^(3) (m)/(s)`

The emf generated between the ends of the wire is given by,

Induced emf =
`Blv\sin \theta`

Where
`\sin 90 = 1`

emf =
`5.16 * 10^(-5) * 5.01 * 10^(3) * 2.84 * 10^(4)`

emf ≅
`7341` V

Therefore, the motional emf generated between the ends of the wire is

7341 V