Integrating a vector (Electromagnetism)

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the magnetic field \textbf{B} given an electric field \textbf{E}(z,t) in the context of electromagnetism. The original poster is working with the curl of the electric field and its relationship to the time derivative of the magnetic field.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to integrate the expression for \frac{\partial\textbf{B}}{\partial t} derived from the curl of \textbf{E}. They express uncertainty about the integration process and the necessity of including functions of z. Other participants question the introduction of arbitrary functions and constants in the integration process.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring various interpretations of the integration process and the implications of including arbitrary functions. Some guidance has been offered regarding the treatment of constants and functions in the context of the problem, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach yet.

Contextual Notes

There are discussions about the assumptions made regarding the magnetic field and the implications of applying Faraday's Law and Gauss's Law. The original poster is also considering the implications of setting certain functions to zero in their solution.

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Homework Statement



Given [itex]\textbf{E}(z,t) = E_{0}cos(kz+ωt)\textbf{i}[/itex]
Find B

Homework Equations



∇ x E = -[itex]\frac{\partial\textbf{B}}{\partial t}[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution



Taking the curl of [itex]\textbf{E}[/itex] gives [itex](0, -ksin(kz+\omega t), 0)[/itex]
so
[itex]\frac{\partial\textbf{B}}{\partial t} = (0,ksin(kz+\omega t),0)[/itex]

I'm not too confident integrating this, I got
[itex]\textbf{B} = (f(z),-\frac{k}{\omega}cos(kz+\omega t), g(z)) + \textbf{c}[/itex]
where c is a constant of integration.

Is this right? The next part of the question asks for the poynting vector and it seems like a lot of work calculating [itex]\textbf{E} \times \textbf{B}[/itex] , would i be allowed to set [itex]f = g = 0[/itex]?
 
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Where did you get this "f(z)" and "g(z)"? The "constant" of integration is the vector c you have added.
 
Yeah that's what I'm confused about.
My reasoning is that I have [itex]\frac{\partial \textbf{B}}{\partial t}[/itex] in terms of [itex]\textbf{E}[/itex], and since [itex]\textbf{E}[/itex] is a function of z and t I get the functions of z from partially integrating wrt t.
Should they be 0?
 
Oh wait I think i just got it.
I can put those functions of z into the arbitrary constant vector c can't I?

Thanks!
 
From the Faraday Law alone, we can in fact only conclude that
[tex]\vec{B}(t,\vec{r})=-E_0 \frac{k}{\omega} \cos(\omega t+k z)+\vec{B}_0(\vec{r})[/tex]
where [itex]\vec{B}_0[/itex] is an arbitrary static magnetic field.

From Gauss's Law for the magentic field we find
[tex]\vec{\nabla} \cdot \vec{B}=\vec{\nabla} \cdot \vec{B}_0=0.[/tex]

From the Maxwell-Ampere Law, assuming that there are no currents, we get
[tex]\partial_t \vec{E}=\vec{\nabla} \times \vec{B} \; \Rightarrow \; \vec{\nabla} \times \vec{B}_0=0.[/tex]
Thus static magnetic field [itex]\vec{B}_0[/itex] is both source and vortex free. Thus if it should vanish at inifinity, it must be 0.

From these additional assumptions we get the usual plane-wave solution.
 

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