How to Find E Field from Potential in Coaxial Cylinders?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the electric field from the electric potential in a system of coaxial cylindrical shells. The specific scenario involves an electron in circular motion around the inner cylinder, with given radii and potential values.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between electric potential and electric field, with one attempting to derive the electric field from the potential difference. Another participant raises concerns about the lack of information regarding the length of the cylinders and the implications for their calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights and alternative approaches. One participant has acknowledged a shift in focus towards solving for charge per unit length instead of charge, indicating a potential productive direction.

Contextual Notes

There are constraints regarding the unknown length of the cylinders and the implications this has on the calculations. Participants are navigating these limitations while attempting to derive the necessary quantities.

godtripp
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Two long conducting cylindrical shells are coaxial and have radii of 20 mm and 80 mm. The electric potential of the inner conductor, with respect to the outer conductor, is +600V.

In the situation provided, an electron is in circular motion around the inner cylinder in an orbit of 30mm radius. Find the speed of the electron in orbit.

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So where I'm stuck is mostly just in finding the E field at said point

The electron has a force radially inward putting the electron in uniform circular motion.
Therefore:

[tex]eE=\frac{mv^{2}}{r}[/tex]

[tex]v=\sqrt{\frac{erE}{m}}[/tex]

So, I can't seem to figure out how to find the e field around the point r =30mm

What I tried to do was the following

[tex]V_{a}-V_{b}=\int \vec{E} d\vec{l}[/tex]

Then I rewrote it as


[tex]-\int dV =\int \vec{E} d\vec{l}[/tex]

So [tex]E = -\frac{dV}{dl}[/tex]


However I think all I've just done is derived the gradient, and I don't know how to use this without a function.

Give me a hint on how to continue my calculation or give me an easier way to calculate E
 
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Find the capacitor per unit length of the co-axial cable. Then find charge per unit length λ by using Q = C*V formula.
The electric field between the coaxial cylinder is given by
E = λ/(2*π*εο*r)
 
Well I can't possibly answer with that solution though. I know nothing about the length of the cylinder except that it is very long. To answer in terms of lamba would be an incomplete answer since I still have unknown variables.
 
Thank you rl.bhat

I took a look at the lamba again and figured out I should have simply just solved for lamba instead of q using my potential integration. Thanks!
 

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