It has been theorized that a satellite in Earth orbit could extend long wires an

Question

It has been theorized that a satellite in Earth orbit could extend long wires and use the motional EMF generated by their passage through the planet's magnetic field. In 1996 NASA ran the "Tethered Satellite Experiment" to test the idea. Alas, the cable broke and the experiment was only partly successful. Calculate the expected average EMF between the cable ends if the cable was 2.0X10^4 m in length, the orbital velocity was 7.5X10^3 m/s and the average magnetic field in that volume of space was 5.0X10^-5 T.

Explanation / Answer

Magnetic Field of Earth (B) : 5.0 x 10-5 T

Length of the cable (l) : 2 x 104 m

Orbital velocity (v) : 7.5 x 103m/s

Expected emf induced (E) = Blv

= (5 x 10-5)(2 x 104)(7.5 x 103)

= 7500 V

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