Biot Savart Law with a surface current

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a disc with a uniformly distributed charge rotating at a constant angular velocity, requiring the determination of surface current and magnetic field using the Biot-Savart law.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive the surface current and apply the Biot-Savart law but expresses uncertainty about the integration of their findings. Some participants suggest modeling the current as a sum of loops to account for varying velocities at different radii.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes attempts to clarify the relationship between surface current and the Biot-Savart law. One participant questions the validity of a zero magnetic field result, indicating ongoing exploration of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity introduced by the varying velocities of charges at different radii on the disc, which may affect the application of the Biot-Savart law.

OmarRod
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Homework Statement


There is a disc with radius R which has a uniformly-distributed total charge Q, rotating with a constant angular velocity w.

(a) in a coordinate system arranged so that the disc lies in the xy plane with its center at the origin, and so that the angular momentum point in the positive z direction, the local current density can be written J(x,y,z) = K(x,y) d(z). determine the surface current K(x,y) in terms of Q, w, and R.

(b) using the Biot Savart law, determine the magnetic field at point r=sk, k is the vector direction. find the same for r=-sk.


Homework Equations


Biot Savart Law


The Attempt at a Solution



I obtained K= Q(w X R) / pi*R squared for part A, but I'm not sure how that's supposed to fit into the Biot Savart Law.
 
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Note that the velocity of the current is not equal for charges at R/2 as it is for charges at R (the angular velocity is the same, but the radii are different). Try modeling the solution as a sum of current loops of width dr, with approximately equal radius (and thus velocity)

This answer would then be the current, which can be modeled with the Biot-Savart law.

~Lyuokdea
 
Lyuokdea said:
Note that the velocity of the current is not equal for charges at R/2 as it is for charges at R (the angular velocity is the same, but the radii are different). Try modeling the solution as a sum of current loops of width dr, with approximately equal radius (and thus velocity)

This answer would then be the current, which can be modeled with the Biot-Savart law.

Ok, I've done this and after applying Biot Savart's Law, I get a zero magnetic field. This can't be right can it?
 
that doesn't sound right...what did you get for J, and how did you include this into the biot savart law?

~Lyuokdea
 
nevermind, i looked at it again and found my mistake. thanks!
 

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