A 0.5m long metal rod PQ completes the circuit as shown in the figure. The plane of the circuit is perpendicular to a magnetic field of flux density 0.15T. If the resistance of the total circuit is 3Ω, calculate the force needed to move the rod in the direction indicated with a constant speed of 2ms−1.
Answer:F=3.75×10−3N.
Solution
The motional emf is ε=Bℓv, driving a current i=RBℓv through the circuit. To keep the rod moving at constant speed, the applied force must balance the magnetic force F=Biℓ on the current-carrying rod: