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AP Physics C: E&M
13.3 Induced Currents and Magnetic Forces
13.2 Electromagnetic Induction
IntermediateMCQMathematicalProportional AnalysisConceptual25.7k
Conducting bar sliding down vertical rails in a magnetic field.
Conducting bar sliding down vertical rails in a magnetic field.
A horizontal conducting bar of length \(\ell\) and mass \(m\) slides vertically downward without friction along two parallel vertical conducting rails separated by distance \(\ell\). The top ends of the rails are connected by a resistor of resistance \(R\), and a uniform magnetic field of magnitude \(B\) is directed perpendicular to the plane of the rails. The bar is released from rest and reaches a terminal speed \(v_T\) under the influence of gravity. Consider the following four configurations:

  • Configuration 1: Mass \(m\), resistance \(R\), magnetic field \(B\)
  • Configuration 2: Mass \(2m\), resistance \(R\), magnetic field \(B\)
  • Configuration 3: Mass \(m\), resistance \(2R\), magnetic field \(B\)
  • Configuration 4: Mass \(m\), resistance \(R\), magnetic field \(2B\)

Which of the following correctly ranks the terminal speed \(v_T\) of the bar in each configuration?

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