A device called a railgun uses the magnetic force on currents to launch projecti

Question

A device called a railgun uses the magnetic force on currents to launch projectiles at very high speeds. An idealized model of a railgun is illustrated in (Figure 1). A 1.2 V power supply is connected to two conducting rails. A segment of copper wire, in a region of uniform magnetic field, slides freely on the rails. The wire has a 0.85 m Ohm (milliohms) resistance and a mass of 4.4 g. Ignore the resistance of the rails. The power supply A is switched on. What is the current flowing through the copper wire? Express your answer using four significant figures along with the appropriate units. What is direction of the force on the wire? down right left up

Explanation / Answer

voltage v = 1.2 V

resistance r = 0.85 m ohms = 0.00085 ohms

mass m = 4.4 g

a) current i = V / R = 1.2 /0.00085 = 1411. 76 amp = 1412 amp

b) from F = IL X B

dircetion of force is to the right

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