(a) Aircraft sometimes acquire small static charges. Suppose a supersonic jet has a 0.500-μC charge and flies due west at a speed of 660 m/s over the Earth’s magnetic south pole (near Earth's geographic north pole), where the 8.00×10−5 -T magnetic field points straight down. What are the direction and the magnitude of the magnetic force on the plane? (b) Discuss whether the value obtained in part (a) implies this is a significant or negligible effect

(a) Magnitude of Magnetic force on jet will be 2.64 ×N and direction will be towards South.

(b) The value obtained in part (a) will have negligible effect.

Explanation:

(a) The magnetic force acting on a moving charge is given by :-

= q ( )

So, magnitude of Force will be:-

F = 0.5 × × ( 660 × 8 × ) × sin (90⁰)

  = 2.64 ×N.

And direction can be found out using Right Hand Thumb Rule.

It comes out to be towards South.

(b)  The gravitational force acting on the jet is massive as the mass of jet is very large. Compared to that, the value obtained above is negligible.

If the jet can overcome gravitational force and fly, the magnetic force will have negligible effect.