Solenoid Passing through square coil-Finding electric field

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a long solenoid with a time-varying current that passes through a square coil. The task is to determine the electric field inside and outside the solenoid, the current through the square coil as the solenoid current decays, and the total energy dissipated in the coil's resistance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive the electric field using symmetry and Faraday's law, expressing uncertainty about the correctness of their approach. Other participants discuss the relationship between the induced current in the square coil and the solenoid's magnetic field, suggesting the use of Faraday's law.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different aspects of the problem, with some confirming similar findings and others questioning the clarity of the problem statement. There is an ongoing examination of how to relate the induced current to the changing magnetic field.

Contextual Notes

There is some ambiguity regarding the interpretation of the question, particularly in how the current interacts with the square coil. Participants are considering the definitions of electromotive force in the context of both magnetic flux and circuit theory.

sweetdion
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Solenoid Passing through square coil--Finding electric field

Homework Statement


A very long solenoid with n turns of wire per unit length and radius b carries a current I(t) which decays with time as I(t)=I0e-t/T. The direction of current in the solenoid is as shown below. The solenoid passes through a single-turn square coil of wire with side length slightly larger than 2b and resistance R.

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a) Determine the electric field both inside and outside the solenoid as the current is decaying. Provide both a magnitude and direction.

b) Determine the current through the square coil as a function of time, Ic(t) as the solenoid current decays.

c) Determine the total energy dissipated in the resistance of the square coil from over the time period t=0 to ∞. Where does the energy come from?

Homework Equations


The induced emf can be obtained from Faraday’s law as
∫ E dr = -d/dt ∫B dA for an open surface S

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm going to start with part a
If we let c=dB/dt, the rate of change of the magnetic field
We choose that surface to be a circle of radius r, and we note by symmetry that the electric field must be tangential to it so for r<=R,
Ein2PiR=cPir2
So Ein=1/2cr tangential to the surface

Eout=2Pir=cPiR2
So Eout=cR2/2r tangential to the surface

I will go onto the next parts next but I'm unsure if this is the right way to find the electric field...

thanks in advance,
sweetdion
 
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although I am a student like yourself, I arrived at the same answers

note that B is obtained by ampere's law and that B =
mu x n x I(t)

and that outside the (ideal) solenoid
B is zero
 
Last edited:


so how would we relate the Ic with the square to find part b? This must be Faraday's law...
 


well I don't think the question is too clear, but I'm assuming the wire somehow jumps onto the square coil then jumps off again onto the solenoid proper..

according to faraday's law, emf = d/dt (flux)

but instead of parsing the electromotive force into its definition as the line integral of electric field, we will now use its other definition as applied to circuitry, namely
I = emf / R

I = dflux/dt / R
 

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