A gyromagentic ratio for a cylinder

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the gyromagnetic ratio for a cylinder and a sphere in classical physics. The original poster presents a problem involving the magnetic moment, charge distribution, and angular momentum, seeking to derive the value of the gyromagnetic ratio, denoted as ##g##, for both shapes based on their respective properties.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive the gyromagnetic ratio ##g## using the magnetic moment equation and the moment of inertia for both a cylinder and a sphere. Participants question the relationships between angular momentum and moment of inertia, and the implications of charge distribution on the calculations. There is also a discussion about the validity of using single particle equations for the entire system.

Discussion Status

Participants have engaged in a back-and-forth exploration of the equations and concepts involved, with some providing clarifications and corrections. The original poster appears to be refining their understanding and calculations, with indications that they may be reaching a clearer interpretation of the problem.

Contextual Notes

There are references to specific assumptions about charge distribution and the need to consider the entire system's properties rather than individual particles. The discussion also highlights the importance of correctly applying physical relationships between angular momentum and moment of inertia.

TheSodesa
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Homework Statement


In classical physics, a system's magnetic moment can be written like so: \mu = g\frac{Q}{2M}L, where ##Q## is the total charge, ##M## is the total mass of the system and ##L## the angular momentum.

a) Show, that for a cylinder (##I = \frac{1}{2}MR^2##) spinning around its axis of symmetry, and that has an even charge distribution on its surface, the value of ##g = 2##. (Think! Don't integrate.)
correct answer: 2

b) Calculate ##g## for a sphere of radius ##R## whose charge is concentrated on it's equator.
(Again, think. Do not integrate.)

correct answer: ##\frac{5}{2}##

Homework Equations


Moment of inertia for a cylinder:
\begin{equation}
I_c = \frac{1}{2} MR^2
\end{equation}
Moment of inertia for a sphere:
\begin{equation}
I_s = \frac{2}{5} MR^2
\end{equation}
The magnectic moment:
\begin{equation}
\mu = g\frac{Q}{2M}L
\end{equation}

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
Alright, let's start out by solving for ##g## in ##(3)##:
\begin{equation}
g = \frac{2M\mu}{QL}
\end{equation}

For a cylinder this becomes:
\begin{equation}
g = \frac{2M\mu}{Q \frac{1}{2}MR^2} = \frac{4\mu}{QR^2}
= 2 \frac{2\mu}{QR^2},
\end{equation}
and for the sphere:
\begin{equation}
g = \frac{2M\mu}{Q \frac{2}{5}MR^2} = \frac{5}{2} \frac{2\mu}{QR^2}
\end{equation}

Now for a cylinder the surface charge can be written:
\begin{equation}
Q = \sigma A = \sigma (2\pi R h + 2\pi R^2),
\end{equation}
where ##\sigma## is the charge density, ##A## the surface area, ##R## the cylinder radius and ##h## its height.

For a sphere, whose charge is on its equator this is:
\begin{equation}
Q = \sigma C = \sigma (2\pi R).
\end{equation}

Plugging ##(7)## into ##(5)##:
\begin{equation}
g = \frac{2M\mu}{Q \frac{1}{2}MR^2} = 2\frac{2\mu}{ \sigma (2\pi R h + 2\pi R^2) R^2}
\end{equation}
Again, for the sphere ##(6)## this is:
\begin{equation}
g = \frac{5}{2} \frac{2\mu}{ \sigma (2 \pi R) R^2}
\end{equation}

This is where I'm stuck. It looks like, looking at the correct answers, that once we solve for ##g##, we should end up with the inverses of the coefficients in ##(1)## and ##(2)##, meaning
\begin{equation}
\frac{2\mu}{QR^2} = 1
\end{equation}
in both cases.

For a single particle rotating in a circle, ##\mu = \frac{q}{2m}L = \frac{q}{2m} mR^2 \omega = \frac{q \omega}{2} R^2 = \frac{qmRv}{2}##, but surely I can't use that to cancel out any ##R##s, since in ##(3)##, ##\mu## is the magnetic moment of the entire system. Also, ##\sigma## isn't going anywhere even if I do manage to cancel out the areas/circumferences.

In short, what am I missing here?
 
Last edited:
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In going from eqn 4 to eqn 5, you substituted the moment of inertia for L, but L is angular momentum. What equation relates the two?
 
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haruspex said:
In going from eqn 4 to eqn 5, you substituted the moment of inertia for L, but L is angular momentum. What equation relates the two?

Whoopsie. ##L = I\omega##.

Then ##(5)## becomes:
\begin{equation}
g = \frac{2 M \mu}{Q \frac{1}{2}MR^2 \omega} = 2 \frac{2 \mu}{Q R^2 \omega} = 2 \frac{2 \mu}{Q R^2 \frac{v}{R}} = 2 \frac{2 \mu}{Q R v}
\end{equation}
Now if we are allowed to use ##\mu = \frac{1}{2} qmrv## (the ##R## below ##(11)## should not have been a capital one, for general purposes), then things do cancel out quite nicely at a distance ##R## from the axis of symmetry, except ##q \neq Q##, is it? I mean \mu = \frac{1}{2} qmrv for single particles only, isn't it?

In any case, if we do plug it into the above expression: g = 2 \frac{2qmRv}{2QRv} = 2\frac{qm}{Q}. Not quite what I was looking for, but close.
 
TheSodesa said:
##\mu = \frac{1}{2} qmrv## for single particles only, isn't it?
You can consider the charge as made of of single particles all with the same velocity and radius.
But what is m there? Isn't it just ##\mu = \frac{1}{2} qrv##?
 
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haruspex said:
You can consider the charge as made of of single particles all with the same velocity and radius.
But what is m there? Isn't it just ##\mu = \frac{1}{2} qrv##?

Yeah, forgot to cancel out the ##m## from the numerator (or more like put it back in for some reason).

Ok, so now we have g = 2 \frac{2 \mu}{QRv} = 2 \frac{2 \sum_{i} \frac{q_i R v}{2} }{QRv} = 2 \frac{2 QRv}{2QRv} = 2

And there we have it (I think).

Applying the same procedure to case b) (which we can do since all of the charge is on the equator):
g = \frac{5}{2} \frac{2 \mu}{QRv} = \frac{5}{2} \frac{2 \sum_{i} \frac{q_i R v}{2} }{QRv} = \frac{5}{2} \frac{2 QRv}{wQRv} = \frac{5}{2}.

Boom shaka laka?
 
TheSodesa said:
Yeah, forgot to cancel out the ##m## from the numerator (or more like put it back in for some reason).

Ok, so now we have g = 2 \frac{2 \mu}{QRv} = 2 \frac{2 \sum_{i} \frac{q_i R v}{2} }{QRv} = 2 \frac{2 QRv}{2QRv} = 2

And there we have it (I think).

Applying the same procedure to case b) (which we can do since all of the charge is on the equator):
g = \frac{5}{2} \frac{2 \mu}{QRv} = \frac{5}{2} \frac{2 \sum_{i} \frac{q_i R v}{2} }{QRv} = \frac{5}{2} \frac{2 QRv}{wQRv} = \frac{5}{2}.

Boom shaka laka?
looks right.
 
haruspex said:
looks right.

Boom shaka laka it is, then. :cool:

Thank you very much.
 

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