Explaining motional emf in terms of the hall effect?

In summary, the conversation discusses the classic airplane problem, where an airplane flying at a constant velocity develops a voltage across its wingspan. The problem was initially thought to be a motional emf problem, but the speaker also considered it to be a hall effect problem. The first question raised is how this can be a motional emf problem if there is no current loop. The second question is how to solve the problem as a hall effect problem, with any random numbers as an example. It is clarified that this is not a homework problem and the numbers are just for illustration.
  • #1
ice109
1,714
6
im thinking of the classic airplane problem. the one where the flying airplane develops a voltage across its wingspan. now this was posed to me as a motional emf problem and i bought it then but simultaneously thought that it seemed like a hall effect problem.

so two questions

now that i think back. how is this a motional emf problem?there's no current loop? the only way i could see it as that if you thought of the wingspan as an antenna that developed a voltage across simply because of E field that is concomitant to the Earth's B field. but how is there a [tex]\frac{d\phi}{dt}[/tex]?

and
how can i solve a problem like this as a hall effect problem?

i can't find one right now but any random numbers would do

airplane flying 30m/s and having a 30m wingspan.

edit

this is not a homework problem, the numbers are simply to serve as an example
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
anyone anyone?
 
  • #3


Motional emf and the Hall effect are two different phenomena that can both occur in the situation of an airplane flying through the Earth's magnetic field. Motional emf is the induced voltage that occurs in a conductor when it moves through a magnetic field, while the Hall effect is the generation of a voltage perpendicular to both the current and magnetic field in a conductive material.

In the case of the airplane, the motional emf is caused by the movement of the airplane through the Earth's magnetic field. This creates a changing magnetic flux through the wingspan of the airplane, which induces a voltage across the wingspan. This voltage is proportional to the speed of the airplane and the strength of the Earth's magnetic field.

On the other hand, the Hall effect is not directly involved in this situation. The Hall effect requires a current to be flowing in the conductor, which then experiences a force due to the interaction with the magnetic field. In the case of the airplane, there is no current flowing through the wingspan, so the Hall effect is not applicable.

To solve a problem like this as a Hall effect problem, you would need to have a current flowing through the wingspan of the airplane. This could be achieved by having a conducting wire connecting the two wings, or by having a current-carrying circuit on board the airplane. The voltage induced by the Hall effect would then be perpendicular to both the current and the magnetic field, and its magnitude would depend on the strength of the magnetic field and the current flowing in the wingspan.

In conclusion, the situation of an airplane flying through the Earth's magnetic field can be explained by motional emf, but not by the Hall effect. To solve this as a Hall effect problem, you would need to introduce a current in the wingspan of the airplane.
 

FAQ: Explaining motional emf in terms of the hall effect?

What is motional emf?

Motional emf, also known as induced emf, is an electromotive force that is generated when a conductor moves through a magnetic field.

How is the Hall effect related to motional emf?

The Hall effect is a phenomenon where a voltage difference is created across a conductor when it is placed in a magnetic field. This voltage, known as the Hall voltage, is directly proportional to the motional emf generated in the conductor.

What factors affect the magnitude of the motional emf?

The magnitude of motional emf is affected by the strength of the magnetic field, the velocity of the conductor, and the length of the conductor that is moving through the magnetic field.

How is the direction of motional emf determined?

The direction of motional emf is determined by the right-hand rule, where the thumb points in the direction of the conductor's motion, the fingers point in the direction of the magnetic field, and the palm indicates the direction of the induced current.

What are the practical applications of motional emf?

Motional emf has many practical applications, such as in electric generators, motors, and transformers. It is also used in devices like Hall sensors to measure magnetic fields and in particle accelerators to create high-energy particles.

Back
Top