Why Does Non-Constant Conductivity Affect Electric Field Divergence?

AI Thread Summary
Non-constant conductivity in materials affects electric field divergence due to the spatial variation in charge distribution and current density. The divergence of the electric field is influenced by the local conductivity, which can lead to non-zero divergence even in steady-state conditions. Instances where the electric field may have zero divergence despite non-constant conductivity typically involve specific configurations or boundary conditions. Understanding these scenarios requires analyzing the relationship between electric field, charge density, and conductivity. The discussion emphasizes the complexity of electric field behavior in materials with variable conductivity.
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Why is the divergence of electric field not zero for a material with non-constant conductivity?
 
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fricke said:
Why is the divergence of electric field not zero for a material with non-constant conductivity?
There are times when a material with non constant conductivity will have an E field with zero divergence. Can you think when that happens? So what is different?
 
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