Current of Spinning sphere of constant voltage

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the magnetic dipole moment of a spinning sphere characterized by a constant voltage, radius, and angular frequency. The discussion centers around the relationship between voltage, charge density, and current density in the context of magnetostatics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to integrate current contributions from different parts of the sphere and question how to derive the surface charge density from the given voltage. There are attempts to clarify the expressions for dipole moment and current density.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered hints regarding the relationship between charge density and voltage, while others are exploring the implications of their calculations. There is an ongoing examination of the expressions used and the factors involved in the calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential confusion stemming from the transition between electrostatics and magnetostatics, and there is mention of missing factors in the derived expressions. The discussion reflects a collaborative effort to clarify these concepts without reaching a definitive conclusion.

Z90E532
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Homework Statement


Find the magnetic dipole moment of a spinning sphere of voltage ##V## and radius ##R## with angular frequency ##\omega##.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


To find the dipole moment, we need to do ##I \int d \vec{a}##, which would be ##I 4 \pi R^2 \hat{r}##, but I need to find the current knowing only the voltage and angular velocity. I'm not sure how to proceed.

Edit: Thought about this again and noticed a mistake. What I need to do is integrate to add up all the current rings on the sphere. So I want to be able to do something like (the sphere is spinning along the z axis):

$$\vec{m} = \sigma R^3 \omega \int ^{2 \pi} _{0} \int ^{\pi} _{0} \sin^3 \theta d \theta \phi \hat{z}$$ .

Where ##I = \sigma R \omega \sin \theta## and ##\vec{A} = R^2 \sin^2 theta##
 
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Your expression for the dipole moment is the dipole moment of a conductor carrying a current I. You have a more general current density. It is also unclear what you mean by ##\hat r##.

Hint: You know the potential so you should be able to find the charge density on the sphere. From the charge density and rotation of the sphere, you should be able to deduce the current density.
 
Orodruin said:
Your expression for the dipole moment is the dipole moment of a conductor carrying a current I. You have a more general current density. It is also unclear what you mean by ##\hat r##.

Hint: You know the potential so you should be able to find the charge density on the sphere. From the charge density and rotation of the sphere, you should be able to deduce the current density.
I corrected my mistake I think, but I still am not sure how to find the surface charge density from only the voltage. I think my brain stopped working.
 
Z90E532 said:
I corrected my mistake I think, but I still am not sure how to find the surface charge density from only the voltage. I think my brain stopped working.
Did you perhaps do electrostatics before magnetostatics?
 
Orodruin said:
Did you perhaps do electrostatics before magnetostatics?

Yeah, I think I was just having a brain malfunction... it's pretty late here.

I think this is the right approach: For a surface charged sphere: ##\vec{E} = \frac{R^2 \sigma}{\epsilon _{0}r^2}## then we have ##V = - \int ^{R} _{\infty} \frac{R^2 \sigma}{\epsilon _{0}r^2} dr =\frac{R^2 \sigma}{\epsilon _{0}R}## which gives ##\sigma = \frac{V \epsilon _{0}}{R}##.

Edit: Just heard from a friend this is the correct solution, although my answer is missing a factor of R somehow. I have ##I = \sigma \omega \sin \theta R## and ## da = \pi R^2 \sin ^2 \theta ##, putting them together I get ##\vec{m} = \sigma \omega R^3 \int ^{\pi} _{0} \sin ^3 \theta d\theta##
 
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Z90E532 said:
although my answer is missing a factor of R somehow

What is the width of the circular loop between ##\theta## and ##\theta + d\theta##?

Edit: Dimensional analysis is also a powerful tool to figure out where a factor of ##R## is missing ...
 

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