Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2009/ib/paper-4/7a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2009 ib Paper 4 7A Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
With consistent flux and loop orientations, Faraday's law is . The magnetic force on a current-carrying wire is .
Let be the top edge height and the downward speed. While , only the top horizontal edge lies in the field, and the linked magnetic flux is . Therefore the induced electromotive force has magnitude , and Ohm's law gives current magnitude . Its force opposes the downward motion and has upward magnitude . Forces on the vertical sides cancel horizontally. HenceFor a release from rest, . The terminal speed is the formal limit while partial overlap is maintained; after the entire loop leaves the field this magnetic braking term vanishes.
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