Electric current in a rotating ring

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving electric current in a rotating ring, specifically focusing on the current that passes through a fixed line. Participants are exploring the nature of the current and the calculations involved in determining it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the concept of 'discontinuous' current and how to approach the problem. There is an attempt to relate charge density and tangential speed to current, with some questioning the use of differentials versus simpler calculations. One participant suggests considering charge passing through an arc over a period of time.

Discussion Status

Some guidance has been offered regarding the calculation of current, with a suggestion to use a straightforward approach involving charge over time. There appears to be a productive exploration of different methods to arrive at the same result, but no consensus has been reached on the best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with a specific problem context that includes a rotating ring and the associated charge dynamics. There is mention of neglecting certain aspects of the problem, such as the charge at the poles of the ring.

Elysium
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I'm currently stuck on this question on the image attachment. Any help would be definitely ppreciated.

Ok, so from what I understand, it asks what is the current that passes through the fixed line.

For part (a), I see that the current is 'discontinuous', and I'm not enitrely sure how to solve it.

For part (b), I multiply the charge density \lambda = \frac{Q}{\pi a} with the tangential speed of the ring a \omega. That would give me the charge over time, right? I believe I should of done this part with differentials though with a segment dQ = \lambda dr.
 

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*bump* still need help.
 
Elysium said:
I'm currently stuck on this question on the image attachment. Any help would be definitely ppreciated.

Ok, so from what I understand, it asks what is the current that passes through the fixed line.

For part (a), I see that the current is 'discontinuous', and I'm not enitrely sure how to solve it.

For part (b), I multiply the charge density \lambda = \frac{Q}{\pi a} with the tangential speed of the ring a \omega. That would give me the charge over time, right? I believe I should of done this part with differentials though with a segment dQ = \lambda dr.

In the first problem you simply want to consider how much charge is passing through the indicated arc per unit time. In other words, don't use the derivative formula, use I= \Delta Q / \Delta t. The simplest would be to choose delta t as one period. How much charge passes through that arc in one period?

Your part b seems valid to me.

-Dan
 
topsquark said:
In the first problem you simply want to consider how much charge is passing through the indicated arc per unit time. In other words, don't use the derivative formula, use I= \Delta Q / \Delta t. The simplest would be to choose delta t as one period. How much charge passes through that arc in one period?

The full Q of course, neglecting the bits on both poles that just spin.

So that would make Q / T and

\omega = \frac{2 \pi}{T}
T = \frac{2 \pi}{\omega}

So that means the answer is:

I = \frac{Q \omega}{2 \pi}

Ok so that's the same answer as question (b). I guess that makes sense since they both have the same amount of Q passing through the same period. So what's the difference? One is done by substitution and the other by multiplying the density with the tangential speed?
 

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