Question: People immersed in strong unchanging magnetic fields occasionally report sensing a metallic taste. Some investigators suspect that motion in the constant field could produce a

People immersed in strong unchanging magnetic fields occasionally report sensing a metallic taste. Some investigators suspect that motion in the constant field could produce a changing flux and a resulting emf that could stimulate nerves in the tongue. We can make a simple model to see if this is reasonable by imagining a somewhat extreme case. Suppose a patient having an MRI is immersed in a \(3.0 \mathrm{~T}\) field along the axis of his body. He then quickly tips his head to the side, toward his right shoulder, tipping his head by \(30^{\circ}\) in the rather short time of \(0.15 \mathrm{~s}\). Estimate the area of the tongue; then calculate the emf that could be induced in a loop around the outside of the tongue by this motion of the head. How does this emf compare to the approximately \(15 \mathrm{mV}\) necessary to trigger an action potential? Does it seem reasonable to suppose that an induced emf is responsible for the noted effect?

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SOLUTION Okay lets calculate this stepbystep 1 Magnetic field strength B 30 T 2 Area of tong... View full answer

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