Electric field due to concentric cylinders

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the electric field between two concentric charged cylinders with given radii and surface charge densities. One participant calculated the electric field at a radius of 4.10 cm and obtained a value of 1.06 x 10^6 N/C, while another participant found 0.214 MN/C, indicating a discrepancy. The use of Gauss's Law was emphasized, with participants discussing the necessary parameters and equations involved in the calculation. Ultimately, the book's answer was clarified to be 2.19 MN/C, leading to a consensus that the initial calculations were slightly off. The conversation highlights the importance of careful application of formulas in electrostatics.
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2 long charged concentric cylinders have radii of 3.22cm and 6.18cm. Surface charge densit of the inner cylinder is 2.41 micro C / m^2 and outer cylinger is -18.0microC/ m^2. Find electric field at r = 4.10cm (r is the radius as taken from the central axid of these two concetric cylinders)

i worked it out and got E = 2 k (2.41 x 10^-6)/ (0.041) = 1.06x 10^6N/C

am i right ?

the book gives an answer that is 2.12 MN/C

so who i right me or the book?
 
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Book I think

I got an answer of .214 M N/C, but what's a factor of ten between friends? When you use Gauss's Law you should have

E*2*pi*r*L, on one side and, (2*pi*a*L*sigma)/epsilon, on the other

L is any arbitrary length (it cancels) r is where you want the field, a is the radius of the inner cyl. sigma is the surface charge density and epsilon is epsilon.

Gabriel
 
Allday said:
I got an answer of .214 M N/C, but what's a factor of ten between friends? When you use Gauss's Law you should have

E*2*pi*r*L, on one side and, (2*pi*a*L*sigma)/epsilon, on the other

L is any arbitrary length (it cancels) r is where you want the field, a is the radius of the inner cyl. sigma is the surface charge density and epsilon is epsilon.

Gabriel

there must a reason why its off my a tenth though
 
check my math

I got

E = (a * sigma)/(r * epsilon)

a = .0322 m
sigma = 2.41 * 10^-6 C/m^2
r = .0410 m
epsilon = 8.85 * 10^-12

This gives me 213868 N/C

Gabriel
 
Allday said:
I got

E = (a * sigma)/(r * epsilon)

a = .0322 m
sigma = 2.41 * 10^-6 C/m^2
r = .0410 m
epsilon = 8.85 * 10^-12

This gives me 213868 N/C

Gabriel

I have to make a correction, the answer in teh book is 2.19 MN/C

so we're off by a tenth and and a few points

perhaps the solution you are posing is wrong??
 
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