It is known that birds can detect the earth\'s magnetic field, but the mechanism

Question

It is known that birds can detect the earth's magnetic field, but the mechanism of how they do this is not known. It has been suggested that perhaps they detect a motional EMF as they fly north to south, but it turns out that the induced voltages are small compared to the voltages normally encountered in cells, so this is probably not the mechanism involved. To check this out, calculate the induced voltage for a wild goose with a wingspan of 1.2m flying due south at 13m/s at a point where the earth's magnetic field is 5.3*10^-5T directed downward from horizontal by 40degrees. The expected voltage would be about

Explanation / Answer

emf = v*B_perpendicular*l

then plug in the numbers:
emf = 13*(5*10^-5)*sin(16)*1.4
emf = 2.5083*10^-4V

convert to mV will be 0.25mV

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