Magnetic field around charging capacitor

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the magnetic field generated between the plates of a charging capacitor, specifically focusing on how to calculate this magnetic field as a function of radial distance from the center of the plates. The context includes theoretical applications of Ampere's Law and the concept of displacement current.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant outlines the use of Ampere's Law to find the magnetic field, suggesting a circular integration path between the capacitor plates.
  • Another participant notes that the electric field (E) is constant between the plates, assuming fringe effects are negligible.
  • A participant seeks clarification on how to express the magnetic field (B) as a function of radial distance (r) from the center of the plates.
  • There is a discussion about the implications of the changing electric field due to the charging capacitor on the displacement current, with a participant questioning how this affects the application of Ampere's Law.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the concept of displacement current and attempts to relate it to the changing electric field and electric flux between the plates.
  • Another participant proposes a method to express the electric field (E) in terms of charge (q), area (A), and the electric constant (ε), while also questioning how to derive E as a function of time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to have varying levels of understanding regarding the displacement current and its implications for calculating the magnetic field. There is no consensus on how to proceed with the calculations or the interpretation of the displacement current concept.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the relationship between the changing electric field and the displacement current, nor have they established a clear method for deriving the magnetic field as a function of radial distance. The discussion includes assumptions about the uniformity of the electric field and the neglect of fringe effects.

chronokinetic
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Hi everyone, I'm doing a problem that involves two circular capacitor plates with radius R connected to wires running current I (as in a circuit), and need to find the magnetic field at three different regions between the two plates as a function of r, radial distance from the center of the two plates.

Using Ampere's Law, ∫B*dl = μ(I +εd[itex]\Psi[/itex]/dt)

where μ and ε are the magnetic constant and electric constant.
B is magnetic field, I is current, and [itex]\Psi[/itex] is flux of electric field (between the two cap. plates, I 'spose).

I figured the best loop to integrate over is a circle (parallel to and in between the two plates).

How will I go about it from here?
 
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If those plates are parallel, That exact problem is an example in my (old) edition of Halliday and Resnick PHYSICS FOR STUDENTS OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

E is constant between the plates, neglecting fringe effects.
 
Thanks, I know the E is uniform, but how can you find B as a function of r ("r"adial distance away from center of plates)?
 
@chronokinetic: The current is charging the capacitor, therefore there is a change in the E field of the capacitor. How will that affect the displacement current?
 
what is the displacement current? I don't know what it is.
As current I charges capacitor q, the e field should change, meaning the electric flux through a circle between the plates also increase. There is no current between the plates so I=0, but there is d[itex]\Psi[/itex]/dt, so ampere's law is:

∫B*dl = [itex]\mu[/itex]*d[itex]\Psi[/itex]/dt

Electric flux [itex]\Psi[/itex] = ∫E dA = E2[itex]\pi[/itex]r
d[itex]\Psi[/itex]/dt = ?

How do I get E as a function of time? The distance between the plates is small so E can be written with q, A, and [itex]\epsilon[/itex] according to the problem. I know I = dq/dt

E for point change is E=kQ/r2

Am I doing it right?
 

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