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I wish to analyze the physics of science fiction, and so I’ll argue that the Merrie Melodies cartoon “Compressed Hare” takes place within the far future when animals rule the world. I imply, Bugs Bunny and Wile E. Coyote stroll on two legs, discuss, and construct stuff. How would that not be science fiction?
Let me set the scene—and I do not suppose we’ve to fret about spoiler alerts since this episode is 60 years outdated. The fundamental concept is, in fact, that Wile E. Coyote has determined he ought to eat the rabbit. After a few failed makes an attempt to seize Bugs, he comes up with a brand new plan. First, he’ll drop a carrot-shaped piece of iron into Bugs’ rabbit gap. After the carrot is consumed (and I don’t know how that might occur), Wile E. Coyote will activate a big electromagnet and pull the rabbit proper to him. It is such a easy and superior plan, it simply has to work, proper?
However wait! Here is the half that I actually like: Whereas Wile E. Coyote is assembling his contraption, we see that it is available in an enormous crate labeled “One 10,000,000,000 Volt Electrical Magnet Do It Your self Package.”
Ultimately, you may most likely guess what occurs: Bugs doesn’t truly eat the iron carrot, so as soon as the coyote activates the magnet, it simply goes zooming towards him and into his cave. And naturally a bunch of different stuff will get interested in it, too—together with a lamppost, a bulldozer, a large cruise ship, and a rocket.
OK, let’s break down the physics of this huge electromagnet and see if this may have labored if Bugs had fallen for it.
What Is an Electromagnet?
There are primarily two methods to make a continuing magnetic subject. The primary is with a everlasting magnet, like these issues that stick to your refrigerator door. These are product of some kind of ferromagnetic materials like iron, nickel, alnico, or neodymium. A ferromagnetic materials mainly incorporates areas that act like particular person magnets, every with a north and south pole. If all these magnetic domains are aligned, the fabric will act like a magnet. (There’s some very difficult stuff occurring on the atomic stage, however let’s not fear about that proper now.)
Nonetheless, on this case Wile E. Coyote has an electromagnet, which creates a magnetic subject with an electrical present. (Notice: We measure electrical present in amps, which isn’t to be confused with voltage, which is measured in volts.) All electrical currents produce magnetic fields. Usually, to make an electromagnet you’d take some wire and wrap it round a ferromagnetic materials, like iron, and switch the present on. The energy of its magnetic subject relies on the electrical present and the variety of loops the wire makes across the core. It is potential to make an electromagnet with out the iron core, nevertheless it will not be as sturdy.
When the electrical present makes a magnetic subject, this subject then interacts with the magnetic domains within the piece of iron. Now that iron additionally acts like a magnet—the result’s the electromagnet and the induced magnet appeal to one another.
What About 10 Billion Volts?
I do not understand how the script for this episode took place, however in my thoughts they’d a gaggle of writers working collectively. Maybe somebody got here up with the concept of an electromagnet and an iron carrot and everybody agreed to place that in there. Certainly somebody raised their hand and stated, “You understand, we will not simply do an electromagnet. It must be over-the-top huge.” One other author should have replied, “Let’s put a quantity there. What about 1 million volts?” Another person interjected: “Positive, 1 million volts is cool—however what about 10 billion volts?”
What does 10 billion volts even imply for an electromagnet? Keep in mind, an important factor about an electromagnet is the electrical present (in amps), not the voltage (in volts). To make a connection between voltage and present, we have to know the resistance. Resistance is a property that tells you ways tough it’s to maneuver electrical prices by means of a wire, and it’s measured in ohms. If we all know the resistance of the electromagnet wire, then we will use Ohm’s regulation to seek out the present. As an equation, it appears to be like like this:
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