Beam of particles in a cylindrical pipe

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 2K views
CAF123
Gold Member
Messages
2,918
Reaction score
87

Homework Statement


Charged particles, each holding charge q are moving in a cylinderical beam centred on the x-axis with n particles per unit volume. All the particles have the same horizontal velocity v.

A) By considering a suitable Gaussian surface, calculate the E-field as a function of r, the radial distance from the x-axis, and hence the force on the charges particle due to the electric field.

2. Homework Equations

Gauss Law,

The Attempt at a Solution



Let a be the radius of the pipe. Choose a Gaussian cylinder to be of radius r < a. Then the E field (from the enclosed charge) and the dA elements are parallel, so by Gauss,## E∫dA = Q_{enc}/ε = E(2 \pi r h),## h the height of the pipe and Gaussian cylinder.

I then said that the volume charge density is ##Q/\pi a^2 h##. So in the Gaussian cylinder, the charge enclosed is ##(\pi r^2 h) \cdot Q/\pi a^2 h = \left(\frac{r}{a}\right)^2 nq## which then gives me the E field and hence the force. My problem is, when I checked the solutions, they say the charge enclosed is ##Q = nq \pi r^2 h## and then they get an E field of ##nrq/2\epsilon##. To be honest, I think this is wrong. This expression for Q yields incorrect dimensions and then when they calculate the E field, they have ##Nm^3/C## which again is wrong. Both my expressions give the correct dimensions. Am I correct?

Many thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi CAF123! :smile:
CAF123 said:
…with n particles per unit volume.

I then said that the volume charge density is ##Q/\pi a^2 h##. So in the Gaussian cylinder, the charge enclosed is ##(\pi r^2 h) \cdot Q/\pi a^2 h = \left(\frac{r}{a}\right)^2 nq##…

I don't understand …

q is charge, n is 1/volume
 
tiny-tim said:
Hi CAF123! :smile:I don't understand …

q is charge, n is 1/volume

Yes, there are n particles per unit volume so charge of nq per unit volume. So (volume) charge density is ##nq/(\pi a^2 h)##. Then I multipled this by the volume of the Gaussian cylinder to get the charge within the Gaussian cylinder.
 
CAF123 said:
Yes, there are n particles per unit volume so charge of nq per unit volume. So (volume) charge density is ##nq/(\pi a^2 h)##.

No, there's a charge of nq per m3.

Volume of cylinder = πa2h m3, so total charge in cylinder = πa2hnq,
and charge inside radius r = πr2hnq