Question: electric field within insulator

AI Thread Summary
An electric field can pass through an insulator, such as glass, but its characteristics may change due to dielectric effects. In the case of a charged copper tape wrapped around a glass tube, the electric field inside the tube will be zero, not because the insulator blocks the field lines, but due to Gauss's law. For creating a uniform electric field, using two charged parallel plates, like in a capacitor, is recommended. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding basic principles of electric fields for effective research. Overall, knowledge of dielectrics and field mapping is crucial for the project.
delis16
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I am working on a research project in which i need to create a uniform electric field inside of a tube. I am using a glass tube and wrapping copper tape rings on the outside of the tube. The copper tape is charged to create an electric field. My question is whether or not the field will be present inside of the glass tube. Can electric field lines pass through an insulator and if so is the field any different than if the insulator wasn't there?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
delis16 said:
Can electric field lines pass through an insulator and if so is the field any different than if the insulator wasn't there?

The electric field lines would can pass trough an insulator and be somewhat changed(see dielectrics).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dielectrics

delis16 said:
I am using a glass tube and wrapping copper tape rings on the outside of the tube. The copper tape is charged to create an electric field. My question is whether or not the field will be present inside of the glass tube

The field will be 0 inside the tube. But not because the field lines are stopped by the insulator but because of Gauss law.
The simplest way to produce a uniform electric field is to use two charged parallel plates. A basic capacitor.

Wait what kind of research are you planing to do if you have so limited knowledge? Take care.
 
First of all the air is insulator and the electric field can pass through it!
I think he is working with discharge system.
If you need the mapping of electric field lines for such system, I will try to look to the equations for that.
 
I was using the Smith chart to determine the input impedance of a transmission line that has a reflection from the load. One can do this if one knows the characteristic impedance Zo, the degree of mismatch of the load ZL and the length of the transmission line in wavelengths. However, my question is: Consider the input impedance of a wave which appears back at the source after reflection from the load and has traveled for some fraction of a wavelength. The impedance of this wave as it...
Back
Top