Radial flow of charge across cylinder?

In summary, the conversation discusses the flow of charge in a system consisting of two concentric cylinders with a material of high resistivity in between. The outer cylinder is hollow while the inner one is solid, and an electric circuit with a voltage V is connected to the cylinder faces. There is a question about whether there is symmetry in the charge flow and whether Gauss' Law can be used to calculate the electric field. The speaker mentions that they only have certain information about the system, such as the voltage, resistivity, and dimensions of the cylinders.
  • #1
collectedsoul
76
0
Hi

Please help me understand how charge flows in this case:

There are 2 concentric cylinders, the outer one is hollow but the inner one is solid. The space between them is filled with a material of high resistivity. Now an electric circuit with voltage V is connected to the cylinder's faces. +ve end of the circuit goes into the outer cylinder and -ve end to the inner cylinder. The cylinders themselves have negligible resistance. What will happen in terms of charge flow here?
 
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  • #2
Is there any symmetry? Use Gauss law to calculate the electric field.
 
  • #3
I tried using Gauss' Law, but I think there is charge flow from inner to outer cylinder through the resistive medium and Gauss' Law won't work in that case.

I am only given the voltage V of the battery, the resistivity of the in-between material [itex]\rho[/itex], the inner radius r1, outer radius r2, and the length L of the 2 cylinders.
 

1. What is radial flow of charge across a cylinder?

Radial flow of charge across a cylinder is the movement of electric charge in a circular or radial pattern across the surface of a cylinder. This phenomenon is often observed in electrical circuits or systems that involve cylindrical components.

2. How does radial flow of charge occur?

Radial flow of charge occurs due to the presence of an electric field that is perpendicular to the surface of the cylinder. This electric field can be created by a variety of factors, such as a voltage difference between two points or the presence of a magnetic field.

3. What factors affect the rate of radial flow of charge?

The rate of radial flow of charge is affected by several factors, including the strength of the electric field, the surface area of the cylinder, and the material properties of the cylinder (such as conductivity and permittivity).

4. Can radial flow of charge be controlled or manipulated?

Yes, radial flow of charge can be controlled and manipulated through the use of external factors such as electric fields, magnetic fields, and varying the properties of the cylinder. This is important in many applications, such as in electronic devices and power transmission systems.

5. What are some real-world applications of radial flow of charge across a cylinder?

Radial flow of charge has many real-world applications, including in electrical motors, generators, transformers, and capacitors. It is also commonly observed in lightning strikes and in the formation of thunderclouds.

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