Charge Distribution on a Conducting Hollow Tube

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    Conducting Tube
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The discussion revolves around determining the charge distribution on a conducting hollow tube with a line of charge along its axis. The inner surface of the tube will have a charge per unit length equal to +alpha, while the outer surface will also carry a charge of +alpha due to the overall neutrality of the conductor. Participants express confusion regarding the electric field behavior at the inner radius, questioning whether a discontinuity exists at r = a. It is clarified that the electric field values for regions inside and outside the inner radius differ, indicating a charge presence at that boundary. Understanding these charge distributions is crucial for solving the homework problem effectively.
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Homework Statement


A very long conducting tube (hollow cylinder) has inner radius a and outer radius b. It carries charge per unit length +alpha , where alpha is a positive constant with units of C/m. A line of charge lies along the axis of the tube. The line of charge has charge per unit length +alpha .

What is the charge per unit length on the inner surface of the tube?

What is the charge per unit length on the outer surface of the tube?

I've found the electric field where r < a, a < r < b, r > b already but I'm not sure how to apply that to the follow questions.
 
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Is there a "discontinuity" in the electric field at r= a? (Is the value using the formula for r< a, but taking r= a, different from the value for r> a?) If so, there must be a charge there to account for the difference.
 
HallsofIvy said:
Is there a "discontinuity" in the electric field at r= a? (Is the value using the formula for r< a, but taking r= a, different from the value for r> a?) If so, there must be a charge there to account for the difference.

I'm confused on what you said, the difference is going to be the charge per length for partA/B ?
 
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