Charge from field, cylindrical symmetry

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on deriving the charge distribution from a given electric field with radial cylindrical symmetry. The electric field equations are provided for two regions: inside and outside a cylinder. The user differentiates the electric field to find the charge density but encounters a discrepancy with a factor of 3/4 in their result. Clarification is provided on using the divergence in cylindrical coordinates to relate the electric field to charge density. The correct approach involves applying the divergence formula to obtain the desired charge distribution.
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The problem states:

From the field with a radial cylindrical component only given by the following equations:

E(r)= (ρ0*r3)/(4 * ε0*a2) for r<=a

E(r)= (ρ0*a2)/(4*ε0*r2) for r > a

obtain the corresponding charge distribution in free space in which the equation is:

ρ(r) = ρ0*(r2/a2) (0<=r<=a)

So I know that dE(r)/dr = p(r)/ε0

After differentiating the first E(r) equation I come to (3/4)*ρ0*r2/a2.

It would be correct if the 3/4 weren't there but I'm not sure where I'm going wrong. Any help appreciated.
 
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In cylindrical coordinates \vec{p}=(r,\theta,z), the div vector is
\vec{\nabla}=\left ( \frac{1}{r}\frac{\partial}{\partial r}r, \frac{1}{r}\frac{\partial}{\partial \theta}, \frac{\partial}{\partial z} \right )

Since E(r,\theta,z)=E(r), you needed: \frac{1}{r}\frac{\partial}{\partial r}\big ( rE(r) \big ) = \frac{1}{\epsilon_0}\rho(r)
 
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Very helpful! Thanks!
 
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