How to Determine Surface Charge Densities on a Conducting Cylinder?

AI Thread Summary
To determine the surface charge densities on a conducting cylinder with a wire of positive charge along its axis, start by recognizing that the charge inside the conductor must be zero. Calculate the necessary uniform surface charge on the inner surface to achieve this condition, and then apply charge conservation to find the resulting charge on the outer surface. The electric field from the wire, given by E=2kλ/r, will influence the charge distribution due to the symmetry of the setup. Formulas for electric fields and charge densities will be essential for solving the problem. Understanding these principles will guide the calculation of the final surface charge densities.
Gale
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An infinitely lond cylindrical conductor of inner radius "a" and outer radius "b" initially has a positive surface charge density of
\sigma_{o}
on its outer surface. A wire of positive charge per unit length
\lambda
is then placed on the axis of the cylinder. Find the final surface charge densities on its inner and outer surfaces.

So that's the problem. I wasn't really sure how to start. I got the formula for electric field caused by a straight line charge.
E=\frac{2k\lambda}{r}
but then i wasn't really sure what to do with that... so could someone give me a push in the right direction. Thanks..

gale~
 
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The charge inside the conductor has to be 0. Calculate what uniform surface charge has to be placed on the inner surface to make this so, and then use the fact that the total charge on the conductor is conserved to find the outer charge. Everything will be uniform because of the symmetry of the problem.
 
StatusX said:
The charge inside the conductor has to be 0. Calculate what uniform surface charge has to be placed on the inner surface to make this so, and then use the fact that the total charge on the conductor is conserved to find the outer charge. Everything will be uniform because of the symmetry of the problem.

right ok... that makes sense... kinda... think you could maybe set me up a formula or two to work with... I've got sort of limited resources (my class notes contain more doodles than actual physics) and how do i involve the wire?
 
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