Working out formula for cylindrical capacitor

In summary, the formula for calculating the capacitance of a cylindrical capacitor is C = 2πε<sub>0</sub>ε<sub>r</sub>(L/ln(b/a)), where C is the capacitance, ε<sub>0</sub> is the permittivity of free space, ε<sub>r</sub> is the relative permittivity of the material between the two cylinders, L is the length of the cylinder, b is the radius of the outer cylinder, and a is the radius of the inner cylinder. The capacitance is directly proportional to the length and relative permittivity, and inversely proportional to the natural logarithm of the ratio of the radii. This formula is specific
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funnyguy
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Homework Statement


Find the potential of a cylindrical capacitor
Radius of both cylinder plates, x and y where x<y
Height of the cylinder: h
Charge on the plates: q

Homework Equations


[tex]E = \frac{q}{A\epsilon_0} = \frac{q}{2\pi r h \epsilon_0}[/tex]
[tex]\Delta V = \frac{\Delta U}{q} = - \int_a^b E dr[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


[tex]V_y = \int_a^b E dr = \frac{q}{2\pi h \epsilon_0} \int_x^y \frac{1}{r} dr[/tex]

Am I setting this up correctly?
 
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Related to Working out formula for cylindrical capacitor

1. How do you calculate the capacitance of a cylindrical capacitor?

The formula for calculating the capacitance of a cylindrical capacitor is C = 2πε0εr(L/ln(b/a)), where C is the capacitance, ε0 is the permittivity of free space, εr is the relative permittivity of the material between the two cylinders, L is the length of the cylinder, b is the radius of the outer cylinder, and a is the radius of the inner cylinder.

2. How does the capacitance of a cylindrical capacitor vary with the dimensions of the cylinders?

The capacitance of a cylindrical capacitor is directly proportional to the length of the cylinder and the relative permittivity of the material between the two cylinders. It is also inversely proportional to the natural logarithm of the ratio of the radii of the cylinders.

3. Can the formula for a cylindrical capacitor be used for other types of capacitors?

No, the formula for a cylindrical capacitor is specific to this particular type of capacitor. Other types of capacitors, such as parallel plate capacitors or spherical capacitors, have their own formulas for calculating capacitance.

4. What is the significance of the relative permittivity in the formula for a cylindrical capacitor?

The relative permittivity, also known as the dielectric constant, represents the ability of the material between the two cylinders to store electric charge. A higher relative permittivity means that the material has a higher capacitance and can store more charge.

5. How accurate is the formula for a cylindrical capacitor?

The formula for a cylindrical capacitor is an idealized model and may not fully account for all factors that can affect capacitance, such as fringing effects or non-uniform electric fields. However, it is a good approximation for many practical purposes and can provide a reasonably accurate estimate of capacitance.

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