Infinitely long cylindrical shell (magnetic field at centre)

In summary, the conversation discusses the use of Biot-Savart's law and symmetry arguments to show that the magnetic field at the center of an infinitely long hollow cylinder is zero. The solution involves evaluating a double integral and converting the vector direction into Cartesian coordinates. Ampere's law is also mentioned as a way to show that the magnetic field is zero at any point inside the cylinder.
  • #1
Alex_Neof
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Homework Statement


An infinitely long hollow cylinder of radius (a) carries a constant current (i). Use Biot - Savart's law and show that the magnetic field at the centre of the cylinder is zero.

Also show, using symmetry arguments and Ampere's law, the magnetic field is zero in any point inside the cylinder.

Homework Equations


Biot - Savart's law.

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
I know through symmetry and the right hand rule you get a magnetic field of zero at the centre, but how would one show this mathematically. I think evaluating a double integral would do this.

Firstly I evaluated an integral (with limits from 0 to pi) for the magnetic field at a perpendicular distance (a) from one straight infinitely long wire and obtained
B = (μ0)*(di) / 2*pi*a.

Where di is a fraction of the total current i for that one wire.

Now where I am finding difficulty is finding a way to evaluate the second integral for a circle for loads of wires which would produce an infinitely long hollow cylinder (cylindrical shell).

How would I produce the second integral ?

Thank you.
Update: second integral containing (μ0)*(di) / 2*pi*a. The limits would be from 0 to 2*pi
 
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  • #2
Hi. This is pretty straightforward, there are no tricks involved with wires and such.
In the first part, start from Biot-Savart law:
- express the current density J in cylindrical coordinates in terms of the current I (with its vector-direction) and delta/theta-functions;
- plug this into Biot-Savart's, knowing that you're evaluating at the origin (r = 0);
- i'll let you unfold all this but here's the important step: convert the resulting vector direction in Cartesian coordinates (because unless it's z it's not constant in cylindrical coordinates and you can't take it out of the integral), then perform the integral.
I can't be more specific since you're not saying in what direction the current is flowing (although I'm assuming along the cylinder), but you should manage from here.

For the second part, Ampere's law with the right Amperian loop will get you through it.
 
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1. What is an infinitely long cylindrical shell?

An infinitely long cylindrical shell is a theoretical object that has a large radius in comparison to its length. It can be visualized as a long, hollow tube with no end caps.

2. How does the magnetic field at the centre of an infinitely long cylindrical shell behave?

The magnetic field at the centre of an infinitely long cylindrical shell is constant and perpendicular to the surface of the shell. This means that the magnetic field lines are parallel and evenly spaced.

3. What factors affect the strength of the magnetic field at the centre of an infinitely long cylindrical shell?

The strength of the magnetic field at the centre of an infinitely long cylindrical shell is affected by the current flowing through the shell and the distance from the centre of the shell. The strength decreases as the distance from the centre increases.

4. Can the magnetic field at the centre of an infinitely long cylindrical shell be calculated?

Yes, the magnetic field at the centre of an infinitely long cylindrical shell can be calculated using the equation B = μ₀I/2πr, where B is the magnetic field, μ₀ is the permeability of free space, I is the current flowing through the shell, and r is the distance from the centre of the shell.

5. How is the magnetic field at the centre of an infinitely long cylindrical shell used in practical applications?

The magnetic field at the centre of an infinitely long cylindrical shell is used in various applications, such as magnetic sensors, magnetic levitation, and particle accelerators. It is also used to study the behavior of magnetic fields in different materials and environments.

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