Can the Last Maxwell's Equation Explain Polarization of a Wire's Insulator?

In summary, the article explores whether the last of Maxwell's equations, which relates to the behavior of electric fields, can account for the polarization effects observed in the insulators of wires. It discusses the theoretical implications of electric polarization in materials, how Maxwell's equations describe electromagnetic phenomena, and the specific role of the last equation in explaining the response of insulators when subjected to electric fields. The analysis suggests that while Maxwell's equations provide a foundational understanding, additional factors may be necessary to fully explain the complexities of polarization in insulators.
  • #1
BlackMelon
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Hi there!

Recently, I have been reading about polarization of a wire's insulator. First of all, I want to see a connection between the last Maxwell's Equation:
$$\nabla\times\\B\ =\mu_0\ J\ +\mu_0\ \epsilon_0\ \frac{\partial E}{\partial t}$$
and the polarization.

So I draw a simple cartoon below. Here, there is a wire carrying current J.
The inner cylinder is a conductor. The outer shell is an insulator.
Somehow the insulator get polarized (may be by external charges or whatever) such that + is on the red side - is on the black side.
The red and the black keeps swapping themselves back and forth, so does their electric field.

After I summed J and dE/dt and apply the Maxwell's last equation, I found the magnetic field B like a disc, tilting back and forth.

I would like to know if the scenario I made is correct?

If so, could you please suggest any scenario else to explain this equation?

Best
BlackMelon
MaxWell Last Eq (1).jpg
 
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  • #2
The B- Field around a current carrying wire is Ampere's Law and it should be a regular circle. The cross product means it is perpendicular.
1697647001975.png


The only way polarity flips is if the current is AC. Maxwell's version adds the electric field to it.
 
  • #3
osilmag said:
The B- Field around a current carrying wire is Ampere's Law and it should be a regular circle. The cross product means it is perpendicular. View attachment 333794

The only way polarity flips is if the current is AC. Maxwell's version adds the electric field to it.

Curl (V1) = V2 means that V1 is perpendicular to V2, right?
From the Maxwell's Equation Curl(B) = u0J +u0e0(dE/dt)
means B is perpendicular to the summation of u0J and u0e0E (since dE/dt has either the same or reversed direction of E)

In my case, it is not the current that flips its polarity (B field is always counter clockwise) , but the electric field itself. And the electric field comes from the + charges and - charges inside the wire's insulator. Normally, they mixed together and create no total electric field. But this time, + grouped themselves together on one side, - did so on the other side. These two groups keep swapping themselves back and forth. The plane of B field tilts up and down. I just wonder if this case exist in real world situation?
1697868655517.png
 
  • #4
BlackMelon said:
Curl (V1) = V2 means that V1 is perpendicular to V2, right?
Wrong. Consider ##\mathbf{V}_1 = y\mathbf{\hat{x}} + x\mathbf{\hat{y}} + y\mathbf{\hat{z}}##.

BlackMelon said:
Hi there!

Recently, I have been reading about polarization of a wire's insulator. First of all, I want to see a connection between the last Maxwell's Equation:
$$\nabla\times\\B\ =\mu_0\ J\ +\mu_0\ \epsilon_0\ \frac{\partial E}{\partial t}$$
and the polarization.
What reading have you been doing? Because I haven't seen the polarization field in any of your equations. If you want to use that form of the equation, the polarization field must be in your current term so that ##\mathbf{J} = \mathbf{J}_{f} + \frac{\partial \mathbf{P}}{\partial t}##. Here ##\mathbf{J}_{f}## is the free current that is only in the wire, and ##\frac{\partial \mathbf{P}}{\partial t}## is the polarization current that is only in the insulator. For a linear insulator of course ##\mathbf{P} = \chi \epsilon_0 \mathbf{E}## so that the relative permitivity is ##\epsilon_r = 1+\chi##. I usually find it easier to work with ##\mathbf{D} = \epsilon_0 \mathbf{E} + \mathbf{P} = \epsilon_r \epsilon_0 \mathbf{E}##. If you haven't seen this stuff before then you need to do more reading.

EDIT: if you want to understand the bound and free charge densities, then you will want to look at things like ##-\mathbf{\nabla \cdot P} = \rho_{b}## which is the volumetric bound charge density, ##\mathbf{\hat{n} \cdot P} = \sigma_b## is the bound surface charge density, ##\mathbf{\hat{n} \cdot D} = \sigma_f## is the free surface charge density, and ##\mathbf{\nabla \cdot D} = \rho_{f}## is the volumetric free charge density.

Note that your problem has azimuthal symmetry, but your sketches of what you think is going on with the polarization do not have that symmetry. That is a clue that you are not doing something right.

jason
 
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FAQ: Can the Last Maxwell's Equation Explain Polarization of a Wire's Insulator?

What is the last Maxwell's equation?

The last Maxwell's equation is often referred to as Ampère's Law with Maxwell's addition. It states that the curl of the magnetic field is equal to the permeability of free space times the sum of the current density and the time rate of change of the electric field. Mathematically, it is expressed as ∇ × B = μ₀(J + ε₀ ∂E/∂t).

How does the last Maxwell's equation relate to polarization?

The last Maxwell's equation includes the term ∂E/∂t, which accounts for the displacement current. This term is crucial in understanding how changing electric fields can generate magnetic fields, a concept that is essential when considering the polarization of materials, including insulators in wires.

What is polarization in the context of wire insulators?

Polarization in the context of wire insulators refers to the alignment of dipole moments within the insulating material when subjected to an electric field. This alignment results in a net dipole moment and affects the electric field distribution within the insulator.

Can the last Maxwell's equation directly explain the polarization of a wire's insulator?

The last Maxwell's equation itself does not directly explain the polarization of a wire's insulator. However, it provides a framework for understanding how time-varying electric fields can influence the magnetic fields and, in turn, how these fields interact with the polarized material. The detailed explanation of polarization requires considering the material properties and the electric field distribution, which is part of the broader application of Maxwell's equations.

What additional concepts are needed to fully understand the polarization of a wire's insulator?

To fully understand the polarization of a wire's insulator, one needs to consider additional concepts such as dielectric properties of the material, boundary conditions at the interfaces, the behavior of electric dipoles within the material, and the overall electric field distribution. These concepts, combined with Maxwell's equations, provide a comprehensive understanding of polarization phenomena.

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