- #1
15ongm
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Homework Statement
I just want to focus on the divergence outside the cylinder (r >R)
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
For r > R, I said ∇ * E = p/ε
But that's wrong. The answer is ∇ * E = 0
I'm confused because there is definitely an electric field outside the cylinder (r > R). The electric field points radially outwards and gets smaller the farther you get from the cylinder because
So I don't understand how the divergence of the electric field can be 0. I think the main part of my confusion is that I don't understand what the divergence is. I know how to mathematically compute the divergence but I don't understand it physically. Like when the divergence of the electric field is 0, what does that mean in terms of the physical electric field?