Magnetic field of rotating cylinder

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves determining the magnetic field within a rotating cylinder that has a specified surface charge density. The context includes considerations of symmetry and the application of integral laws related to magnetic fields and current densities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the integral law for magnetic fields but questions the correct area for integration and the nature of the current density. Participants discuss the assumptions about the cylinder being a perfect conductor and the implications for current flow.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring the implications of surface charge density and current density, with some guidance provided on calculating the net current enclosed by a specific curve. There is an ongoing clarification regarding the integration of current density and its relation to the geometry of the cylinder.

Contextual Notes

There is a lack of consensus on the exact nature of the current (surface vs. volume) and how to approach the integration of current density over the defined area. The original poster expresses confusion about integrating a current density that is zero except at the boundaries of the cylinder.

Kruger
Messages
213
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



The problem is to find the magnetic field within a rotating cylinder (infinitely long) that has on its surface a given surface charge density p. I made a picture of the problem to illustrate this. The only hint given: "the magnetic field outside the cylinder is zero.

Homework Equations



Sorry, I cannot use Latex, but:

integral(B,ds) = u0*integral(J,da) where

B is the magnetic field, ds the vector line element, J the current density, da the vector area element.

The Attempt at a Solution



Well, to be cleary, I can solve this problem, but I do not understand a very basic thing.
First I argued by symmetry, that the magnetic field can only be in direction of the angular frequency vector w. Then I took a curve c, illustrated in my picture and now I want to apply the integral law I have written above to this curve c.

I know the left hand side of the integral, which is simply (given that the curve has lengt L):

B*L,

Now I want to calculate the right hand side. Doing so, I first need J. logically:

|J|=(p/(2*pi*R))*(w*R) where (w*R) = v is simply the velocity.

Up to here all is quite easy, but now I have some questions:
i) Is it correct, that the J vector is the tangential vector to the outer surface of the cylinder perpendicular to the angular frequency vector w?
ii) The integral law states that I have to integrate J over the area enclosed by the curve c. But this doesn't seems to be correct. I mean, the area within the cylinder and enclosed by the curve c would then be (R-r1)*L and outside undefined. So over which area do I have to integrate and WHY?
 

Attachments

Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Is it a hollow cylinder? Also, do you have a surface current flowing only on the outside of the cylinder, or is it a volume current?
 
Well, I think we can assume the cylinder to be a perfect conductor carrying only a surface charge density at its outside. So inside there will not be any current.
 
So, you'll only need to calculate the net current enclosed by the curve C you drew. If [tex]\sigma[/tex] is the surface charge density, then the surface current will be [tex]K=\sigma v = \sigma \omega R[/tex]. From this, you can find the current enclosed by the loop and the magnetic field inside.
 
Ah, so you mean I have to integrate the surface current density K (unit A/m) over the line my curve intersects the cylinder? So I get K*length(curve) = K*L.
 
Kruger said:
Ah, so you mean I have to integrate the surface current density K (unit A/m) over the line my curve intersects the cylinder? So I get K*length(curve) = K*L.

Yeah, looks right.
 
Ah, ok, then I understand it now. I think the first thing I were trying to do was integrating an object, namely the current density J, which is simply everywhere zero except at the boundaries of the cylinder over an area which intersects the current density vector J perpendicular. This cannot really work, because then J would be of zero measure for the integral of J over the area which is enclosed by the curve I have drawn (because with respect to the integral J*d(area), J is just defined on a line, namely the intersection of my rectangular area with the cylinder and zero elsewhere).

<--- This seems to be written in a strange manner, but well, this was just what confused me.

Thank you for help.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Replies
4
Views
4K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
5K
Replies
1
Views
3K