College Physics (4th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073512141
ISBN 13: 978-0-07351-214-3

Chapter 22 - Conceptual Questions - Page 861: 14

Answer

Although the expression $E = cB$ can be a useful ratio, it can not be used to compare the magnitude of the electric field to the magnitude of the magnetic field in any meaningful way because they are measured in different units.

Work Step by Step

The electric field $E$ is measured in units of $N/C$. The magnetic field $B$ is measured in units of Tesla. Although the expression $E = cB$ can be a useful ratio, it can not be used to compare the magnitude of the electric field to the magnitude of the magnetic field in any meaningful way because they are measured in different units. It would be like claiming that a mass of $12~kg$ is bigger than a distance of $4~km$. Although the number $12$ is bigger than the number $4$, it is not meaningful to compare a mass with a distance. Similarly, it is not meaningful to compare the magnitude of an electric field to the magnitude of a magnetic field.
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