Chapter 30: Problem 45
Magnetic fields within a sunspot can be as strong as 0.4 T. (By comparison, the earth's magnetic field is about 1/10,000 as strong.) Sunspots can be as large as 25,000 km in radius. The material in a sunspot has a density of about \(3 \times 10^{-4} \, \mathrm{kg/m}^3\). Assume \(\mu\) for the sunspot material is \(\mu_0\). If 100\(\%\) of the magnetic-field energy stored in a sunspot could be used to eject the sunspot's material away from the sun's surface, at what speed would that material be ejected? Compare to the sun's escape speed, which is about \(6 \times 10^5 \, \mathrm{m/s}\). (\(Hint:\) Calculate the kinetic energy the magnetic field could supply to 1 m\(^3\) of sunspot material.)
Short Answer
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