Radiation Pressure: Proving Magnetic Field Reflection on Perfect Conductor

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on proving that the magnetic field \vec{b} acting on a surface element ds during the reflection of an electromagnetic wave on a perfect conductor is half the total magnetic field \vec{B}, expressed as \vec{b}=\frac{1}{2}\vec{B}. This justification is linked to the force acting on ds, represented by d\vec{f}=\frac{1}{2}\vec{j_{s}}\times \vec{B} \cdot ds, where \vec{j_{s}} is the surface current density. The participants explore alternative methods to justify the \frac{1}{2} factor without relying solely on Ampère's Law. A key point made is that the total magnetic field outside the conductor is twice the incident wave's magnetic field, as the contributions from the wave and the surface current cancel below the surface. The thread concludes with a participant expressing satisfaction after resolving their confusion regarding the topic.
megaflop
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Hi everyone ! This is my first post!

How can we prove that during the reflection of an electromagnetic wave on the surface of a perfect conductor, the magnetic field \vec{b} acting on a surface element ds is worth half the total magnetic field \vec{B} using Ampere's Law. That is \vec{b}=\frac{1}{2}\vec{B}.
This in order to justify the one half factor in the expression of the force acting on ds which is d\vec{f}=\frac{1}{2}\vec{j_{s}}\times \vec{B} \cdot ds, where \vec{j_{s}} is the surface current density on the conductor.
A drawing would be welcome.

Thanks in advance for your answersPS: Why does it automatically go to a new line when i insert a Latex equation?
 
Last edited:
Science news on Phys.org
When you want an equation to appear "in line", use "itex" in the opening and closing tags, not "tex".
 
jtbell said:
When you want an equation to appear "in line", use "itex" in the opening and closing tags, not "tex".

Thank you.
And what about the subject ?
 
There's maybe another way to justify the \frac{1}{2} factor without using Ampère's law ? It's how it was justified in my textbook but I couldn't understand it.
Anyone ?
 
Consider a sheet of surface current K: KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
with the EM wave incident from above. The B field comes from two sources
1) the wave B_W, and 2)the current, B_K. Below the surface (in the metal) B is zero.
That mean the two components of B cancel so B_W=B_K in magnitude and opposite in sign.
Above the surface, B_K changes sign, but B_W doesn't, so the total B field outside is twice the field B_W which acts on the surface current.
 
Meir Achuz said:
Consider a sheet of surface current K: KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
with the EM wave incident from above. The B field comes from two sources
1) the wave B_W, and 2)the current, B_K. Below the surface (in the metal) B is zero.
That mean the two components of B cancel so B_W=B_K in magnitude and opposite in sign.
Above the surface, B_K changes sign, but B_W doesn't, so the total B field outside is twice the field B_W which acts on the surface current.

Yep I figured this out.
Thank you for you answer.
 
I need to calculate the amount of water condensed from a DX cooling coil per hour given the size of the expansion coil (the total condensing surface area), the incoming air temperature, the amount of air flow from the fan, the BTU capacity of the compressor and the incoming air humidity. There are lots of condenser calculators around but they all need the air flow and incoming and outgoing humidity and then give a total volume of condensed water but I need more than that. The size of the...
Thread 'Why work is PdV and not (P+dP)dV in an isothermal process?'
Let's say we have a cylinder of volume V1 with a frictionless movable piston and some gas trapped inside with pressure P1 and temperature T1. On top of the piston lay some small pebbles that add weight and essentially create the pressure P1. Also the system is inside a reservoir of water that keeps its temperature constant at T1. The system is in equilibrium at V1, P1, T1. Now let's say i put another very small pebble on top of the piston (0,00001kg) and after some seconds the system...
Back
Top