Magnetic Forces in and around a coaxial cable

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a coaxial cable consisting of an inner solid cable and an outer thin tube, both carrying equal currents in opposite directions. The task is to derive equations for the magnetic field in three regions: inside the inner cable, between the two cables, and outside the outer tube.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster questions whether the outer tube should be modeled as a solenoid and expresses uncertainty about the number of turns. They also ponder the implications of using Ampere's Law, suggesting that it might lead to a zero current and thus a zero magnetic field.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different modeling approaches for the coaxial cable and discussing the implications of using Ampere's Law. Some guidance has been provided regarding the use of current components in different regions, but no consensus has been reached on the modeling approach.

Contextual Notes

The original poster indicates a lack of clarity on how to model the outer tube and the implications of the currents in the coaxial setup. There is an ongoing discussion about the assumptions related to current distribution and magnetic field calculations.

032050
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Homework Statement


So I'm doing a problem set and the question refers to a coaxial cable, I am told that the cable consists of an inner solid cable radius (R1), which is surrounded by a outer thin tube with radius (R2) , both have the same current though them but opposite direction. I have to create equations for the magnetic field inside the inner cable, between the two, and outside the tube. The picture I am given is a filled in circle inside of a larger circle.
My questions about doing the problem are:
1. Should the thin tube be modeled as a solenoid? But then I don't know the number of turns
2. If I use Amperes Law, then wouldn't I get a I_through of zero?

Homework Equations


magnetic field inside a current carrying wire is =[(µIr)/2piR2]

The Attempt at a Solution


Honestly I don't even know where to start because I don't know how to model the outer circle
 
Last edited:
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welcome to pf!

hi 032050! welcome to pf! :smile:

(have a mu: µ and try using the X2 and X2 icons just above the Reply box :wink:)
032050 said:
1. Should the thin tube be modeled as a solenoid? But then I don't know the number of turns

no …

there's no turns …

if you like, you can model it as a million very thin wires running along the tube, each with one-millionth of the current :wink:
 
Thanks, so if I model the outer tube using Ampere's Law to calculate the Ithrough wouldn't that give zero current and then zero magnetic field?
 
maybe :rolleyes:

where? :smile:
 
ohhh..
is it inside the wire I would only use the current component of the inner wire, between the two I would still only use the inner wire, and then outside i would add the two to get Ithrough=0?
 
yup! :biggrin:
 
Thankyouuuu! :approve::smile::biggrin:
 

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