Electric field in a rotating frame

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of a radially pointing electric field in a rotating frame, specifically for a particle moving with uniform velocity around a circle of radius R. It concludes that in the rest frame of the particle, the electric field will not remain constant; instead, it will manifest as a superposition of two oscillating fields in the x and y directions, out of phase by π/2. This behavior is contingent upon the particle's speed being significantly less than the speed of light (v << c), while relativistic effects must be considered if v approaches c.

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  • Understanding of electric fields and their properties
  • Familiarity with rotating reference frames
  • Basic knowledge of classical mechanics and centrifugal force
  • Introduction to special relativity and its implications on motion
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Physicists, electrical engineers, and students studying electromagnetism and relativity, particularly those interested in the dynamics of electric fields in rotating systems.

Malamala
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Hello! I have a radially pointing electric field i.e. at a given radius, R, the electric field has the same magnitude and points radially around that circle of radius R. I have a particle moving around that circle of radius R, with uniform velocity (ignore for now how it gets to move like that). What is the field felt in the rest frame of the particle (assume that z-axis is the same for the lab and particle frame)? Will it be a constant field always pointing along the same direction, or will it appear as a superposition of 2 oscillating fields, one in x the other in y direction, out of phase by ##\pi/2## (basically like an electric field rotating in the x-y plane in the frame of the particle)?
 
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In the approximation that speed of the particle v << c, the direction of thus designed electric field, and centrifugal force in addition, coincide with r, the radical direction of the reference frame of rotation. If v is comparable to c, we must consider relativity and that might be messy.

Malamala said:
Will it be a constant field always pointing along the same direction, or will it appear as a superposition of 2 oscillating fields, one in x the other in y direction, out of phase by π/2 (basically like an electric field rotating in the x-y plane in the frame of the particle)?
To reply we may need more information how you set not r and ##\phi## but x-axis and y-axis in the rotating frame of reference.
 
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