Electric field everywhere for a hollow cylindrical conductor?

Click For Summary
For an infinitely long, hollow conducting cylinder with inner radius a and outer radius b, the electric field is zero inside the cylinder and within the shell. Outside the shell, the electric field can be determined using Gauss's law, leading to the formula E = λ / (2π∈r), where λ is the linear charge density and r is the distance from the axis. The charge is effectively concentrated on the outer surface, similar to a spherical conductor. This approach confirms the behavior of the electric field in relation to the hollow conductor's geometry.
Vitani11
Messages
275
Reaction score
3

Homework Statement


An infinitely long, hollow, conducting cylinder has a inner radius a and outer radius b and carries a linear charge density λ along its length. What is the electric field everywhere?

Homework Equations


∫E⋅dA = Qenc/∈

Variables
∈ = permittivity constant
a = inner radius
b = outer radius
λ = linear charge density
E = electric field
r = distance to point of E field
Qenc = enclosed charge

The Attempt at a Solution


For inside (r∠a) and in the shell (a∠r∠b) the electric field is zero. I don't know what to do for outside the shell. I think the charge is concentrated on the outer shell just as for a spherical conductor, is this true? Here is my attempt for outside.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20161202_105816.jpg
    IMG_20161202_105816.jpg
    10.3 KB · Views: 602
Physics news on Phys.org
Use Gauss's law:
∫E⋅dA = Q / ∈

E ⋅ (2πrL) = λ * L / ∈ where L denotes the imaginary Gaussian surface's length.

Therefore,

E = λ / (2π∈r)

I hope this was helpful.
 
  • Like
Likes Vitani11
That is exactly what I did in the picture. Great - thank you!
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

Similar threads

Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
23
Views
4K
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K