The Magnetic Field in a Charging Capacitor

1. Dec 6, 2013

cjavier

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A parallel-plate capacitor of capacitance C with circular plates is charged by a constant current I. The radius a of the plates is much larger than the distance d between them, so fringing effects are negligible. Calculate B(r), the magnitude of the magnetic field inside the capacitor as a function of distance from the axis joining the center points of the circular plates.

2. Relevant equations

When a capacitor is charged, the electric field E, and hence the electric flux Φ, between the plates changes. This change in flux induces a magnetic field, according to Ampère's law as extended by Maxwell:
∮B⃗ ⋅dl⃗ =μ0(I+ϵ0dΦdt).
You will calculate this magnetic field in the space between capacitor plates, where the electric flux changes but the conduction current I is zero.

3. The attempt at a solution
Since the I on the left is zero, I just say the answer is μϵ0dΦdt. This becomes μI which is incorrect.

2. Dec 6, 2013

Staff: Mentor

Interesting problem -- I would approach it with Biot–Savart's law myself, looking at the currents flowing out to each pie-shaped piece of the capacitor plates, and letting the size of the pie pieces shrink to zero. There may be an easier way to do it with the hint that you posted, but I'm not seeing that easier way offhand.

Can you post a try at this using Biot–Savart's law?

3. Dec 7, 2013

vanhees71

What you have here is a time-dependent but (to a good approximation) spatially homogeneous electric field. You are asked for the magnetic field as function of distance from the axis.

I'd rather solve the local Maxwell equations than to try to use the integral form. In this case, between the plates you have $\vec{j}=0$ and thus (in SI units)
$$\vec{\nabla} \cdot \vec{B}=0, \quad\vec{\nabla} \times \vec{B}=\mu_0 \epsilon_0 \frac{\partial \vec{E}}{\partial t}.$$
I'd use the Coulomb gauge and introduce the vector potential as
$$\vec{B}=\vec{\nabla} \times \vec{A}, \quad \vec{\nabla} \cdot \vec{A}=0.$$
Then you get
$$\Delta \vec{A}=-\mu_0 \epsilon_0 \partial_t \vec{E}.$$
NB: Be careful with the proper definition of the Laplace operator acting on vector fields in curvilinear coordinates (here cylinder coordinates!).

4. Dec 7, 2013

WannabeNewton

At any given instant of time you have a homogenous electric field in between the capacitor plates; you can easily calculate this electric field using either Gauss's law or just using the standard formula for the electric field in between infinite (and in this case circular) parallel plate capacitors. After that you can calculate the electric flux in between the plates and use Ampere's law to get the magnetic field. Use the symmetries of the system to argue the symmetry of the magnetic field in order to make the line integral of the magnetic field trivial in Ampere's law.

5. Dec 7, 2013

vela

Staff Emeritus
You should reread the problem statement and ask yourself if you're answering the question that was asked.