Electric Field really constant in a wire?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of electric fields in a wire connected to a parallel plate capacitor with charges Q and -Q. It concludes that while electrons experience variations in electric field strength due to wire resistance and impurities, for most practical applications, the electric field can be assumed to be constant. This assumption holds true during the full cycle of capacitor discharge and charge. The presence of impurities in the wire contributes to its resistance, affecting the electric field but not significantly altering the overall assumption of constancy.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric fields and their behavior in conductive materials.
  • Knowledge of parallel plate capacitors and their charge dynamics.
  • Familiarity with electrical resistance and its impact on current flow.
  • Basic concepts of statistical distributions related to material impurities.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of impurities on electrical resistance in conductors.
  • Learn about the behavior of electric fields in various geometries, particularly in capacitors.
  • Explore the principles of charge distribution in parallel plate capacitors.
  • Investigate the relationship between electric field strength and wire dimensions.
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineers, physics students, and anyone interested in the practical applications of electric fields in conductive materials.

MotoPayton
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How close is this assumption to reality.

Take for example a parallel plate capacitor with charge Q and -Q. Connect to the outside of the plates a wire with resistance R.

As the electrons move from the -Q plate along the half loop to the +Q plate would they not experience a electric field starting at a maximum, decreasing to a minimum and then back to a maximum.
 
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in reality the wire could have many impurities spread throughout which would add to its resistance. This is the reason wires are relatively thin, it is likely that the impurities are random in this case and it would come down the statistical distributions etc. But for most practical applications is safe to assume that yes it will be constant.

the field through the wire which you described i think is correct for a full cycle of the capacitor, i.e discharge plate 1, charging plate 2, discharging plate 2 charging plate 1.
 

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