Torque on a Disk in a Magnetic Field (E&M)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a homework problem involving torque on a disk in a magnetic field, where bugs carry charge as they move radially outward. The problem requires calculating the torque given the charge per bug, the number of bugs, and the magnetic field's variation with radius. Initially, the student struggled with determining the velocity of the bugs and the correct application of torque and magnetic force equations. Ultimately, they realized that the current could be calculated from the number of bugs and their charge, allowing them to proceed with the solution. The final answer for the torque was confirmed as 0.00156 n-m.
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Hi, I've been struggling on this homework problem for quite a few hours now and would really appreciate a pointing in the right direction. It's a fairly entertaining problem that I'm getting stuck on in several places.

1. Homework Statement

The problem goes:
"An erratic engineer, who lives in a residence infested by small, fast bugs, conceives the device shown as a method of driving a disk. The bugs are taught to climb up the axle of the disk, emerge through a hole O at its center, and run radially outward at constant velocity. At the edge, the bugs fall off and drop into a tray. By means of a seat emf not shown, each bug acquires an electric positive charge as it ascends, and carries the charge with it as it runs across the disk. A magnetic field of flux density varying with radius according to B= 0.1r2 acts upward over the disk.

Suppose that 1000 bugs/sec emerge from O, each carrying charge +0.001 Coulomb, and move out radially. The radius of the disk is 0.5 meters.

a) Find the torque on the disk.

The given answer is 0.00156 n-m.

Homework Equations


τ=rFsinθ
F=q(V x B)
τ=IBAsinθ
F=I(ℓ x B)

The Attempt at a Solution


So, I've tried this several ways.
Here's the one I think is in the right direction:

I used both the equation for torque and the one for magnetic force.
So I get:
τ = r * qVB (since θ=90 by right hand rule)
τ = r * qV ∫ 0.1 r2 dr (and integrate from 0 to 0.5m)
τ = r * q * V * (0.5)3/3
τ = 0.5m * q * V * (0.5)3/3

Then, I have a problem. I'm fairly sure that q = 0.001C x 1000, but I could be wrong.
In any case, I'm stuck with V, and as far as I can see there's no way to find the velocity, since I'm given neither V nor time of travel of the bugs.

Am I missing something obvious? Thanks!

**diagram attached**
2moOVnA.png
 
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Nevermind. I solved it.
Was missing the fact that current = 1000 bugs/sec x 0.001 C/bug

Using that I was able to use dF=IBdr and plug that into dT=rdF.
 
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