The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory holds the world record for creating

Question

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory holds the world record for creating the strongest magnetic field. For brief periods of time, their largest multi-shot pulsed magnet can produce magnetic fields in excess of 85 T. To see if such a strong magnetic field could pose health risks for nearby workers, calculate the maximum acceleration the field could produce for Na^+ ions (of mass 3.8 Times 10^-26 kg) in blood traveling through the aorta. The speed of blood is highly variable, but 55 cm/s is reasonable in the aorta. Would you guess that the acceleration you found above would be dangerous for workers to be near such a large magnetic field? this value for acceleration is dangerously large no, there are no health risks from the magnetic field it is unclear whether this would be dangerous

Explanation / Answer

Maximum force due to the magnetic field

F = q v B

In accordance with Newton's law

F = ma

Equate the force

q v B = m a

Solve for acceleration

a = q v B /m

Substitute numerical values

a = ( 1.6e-19 C ) ( 0.55 m/s )( 85 T ) / 3.8e-28 kg

a = 1.97 x 1010 m/s2

Round off the result to 2 significant digits

a = 2.0 x 1010 m/s2

This value of acceleration is dangerously large

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