Moving Bar in Magnetic Field · PhysicsBowl 2017 #35

Physics · electromagnetism

Problem

A metal bar is moving to the left across a set of frictionless conducting rails as seen in the figure. Throughout the region between the rails, there is a uniform magnetic field directed into the plane of the page. The resistors labeled X and Y are identical. Which one of the following choices correctly indicates the direction of the conventional current in the resistors and the relation between the magnitude of the currents through each resistor at the instant shown? [Figure: Conducting rails with moving bar and two resistors X and Y]

	Current through X	Current through Y	Relation between Currents ( $I_X$ , $I_Y$ )
(A)	Up the plane of the page	Up the plane of the page	$I_X > I_Y$
(B)	Up the plane of the page	Up the plane of the page	$I_X = I_Y$
(C)	Up the plane of the page	Down the plane of the page	$I_X > I_Y$
(D)	Down the plane of the page	Down the plane of the page	$I_X < I_Y$
(E)	Down the plane of the page	Up the plane of the page	$I_X = I_Y$

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