Electric field due to concentric cylinders

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the electric field due to two long charged concentric cylinders with given radii and surface charge densities. The original poster presents their calculation and questions its accuracy compared to a book's answer.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of Gauss's Law and share their calculations, questioning the discrepancies between their results and the book's answer. There is an exploration of the factors contributing to the differences in calculated electric field values.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided calculations and expressed uncertainty about the correctness of their results compared to the book. There is an ongoing examination of the formulas used and the values substituted, with no clear consensus reached on the correct answer.

Contextual Notes

Participants note variations in their answers and the book's answer, indicating potential misunderstandings or miscalculations. The discussion includes specific values for charge density, radius, and permittivity, which are critical to the problem but may be subject to interpretation or error.

stunner5000pt
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2 long charged concentric cylinders have radii of 3.22cm and 6.18cm. Surface charge densit of the inner cylinder is 2.41 micro C / m^2 and outer cylinger is -18.0microC/ m^2. Find electric field at r = 4.10cm (r is the radius as taken from the central axid of these two concetric cylinders)

i worked it out and got E = 2 k (2.41 x 10^-6)/ (0.041) = 1.06x 10^6N/C

am i right ?

the book gives an answer that is 2.12 MN/C

so who i right me or the book?
 
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Book I think

I got an answer of .214 M N/C, but what's a factor of ten between friends? When you use Gauss's Law you should have

E*2*pi*r*L, on one side and, (2*pi*a*L*sigma)/epsilon, on the other

L is any arbitrary length (it cancels) r is where you want the field, a is the radius of the inner cyl. sigma is the surface charge density and epsilon is epsilon.

Gabriel
 
Allday said:
I got an answer of .214 M N/C, but what's a factor of ten between friends? When you use Gauss's Law you should have

E*2*pi*r*L, on one side and, (2*pi*a*L*sigma)/epsilon, on the other

L is any arbitrary length (it cancels) r is where you want the field, a is the radius of the inner cyl. sigma is the surface charge density and epsilon is epsilon.

Gabriel

there must a reason why its off my a tenth though
 
check my math

I got

E = (a * sigma)/(r * epsilon)

a = .0322 m
sigma = 2.41 * 10^-6 C/m^2
r = .0410 m
epsilon = 8.85 * 10^-12

This gives me 213868 N/C

Gabriel
 
Allday said:
I got

E = (a * sigma)/(r * epsilon)

a = .0322 m
sigma = 2.41 * 10^-6 C/m^2
r = .0410 m
epsilon = 8.85 * 10^-12

This gives me 213868 N/C

Gabriel

I have to make a correction, the answer in the book is 2.19 MN/C

so we're off by a tenth and and a few points

perhaps the solution you are posing is wrong??
 

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