A metal rod is falling toward the surface of the Earth near the equator.As it falls,one end of the rod becomes positively charged due to the motional emf of the rod through the Earth's magnetic field.The rod is oriented so that

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Earth's magnetic field lines are approximately horizontal and points toward the geographic north in the northern hemisphere. As the metal rod falls, it cuts across these magnetic field lines and generates a motional emf. According to the right-hand rule, the direction of the induced current will be perpendicular to both the direction of motion and the magnetic field direction. Therefore, the positive end of the rod will point in the direction perpendicular to the velocity and the magnetic field, which is toward the east.

A Metal Rod Is Falling Toward the Surface of the Earth