Finding Angular & Linear Momentum of EM Fields

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the linear and angular momentum of electromagnetic fields generated by a point charge near an infinite solenoid. The user initially struggles with determining the limits of integration for the volume while attempting to compute the linear momentum (Pem) and angular momentum (Lem). They provide a partial solution involving the transformation to cylindrical coordinates and emphasize the importance of doing integrals by hand rather than using computational tools. The final answer for linear momentum is given as Pem=μ0qnIR2/2a, while angular momentum is zero (Lem=0). The conversation highlights the complexities of the integration process and the need for careful mathematical handling.
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Homework Statement


A point charge q is a distance a>R from the axis of an infinite solenoid (radius R, n turns per unit length, current I). Find the linear momentum and the angular momentum in the fields. (Put q on the x axis, with the solenoid along z; treat the solenoid as a nonconductor, so you don't need to worry about induced charges on its surface.)[Answer: Pem0qnIR2/2a; Lem=0]

Homework Equations


\vec{E}q=q/4\pi\epsilon0(1/\vec{r}2)=q/4\pi\epsilon0(\vec{r}/r3)
\vec{B}sol0nI\hat{z}
pem0(\vec{E}\times\vec{B})
lem=r\timespem
Pem=∫pem d\tau
Lem=∫lem d\tau

The Attempt at a Solution


I kind of plugged and chugged, found r2=((x-a)2+y2+z2) and \vec{r}=(x-a)\hat{x}+y\hat{y}+z\hat{z}
Plugged in for that as well. However, I eventually got to the integrations in for the Pem and realized I don't know what my limits of integration are for the volume.
I know the z is from -∞ to ∞, but I have no clue for x and y. Here is what my final line looks like so far (with me already integrating over z):
Pem=\frac{-2\mu_{0}\epsilon_{0}qnI}{4\pi\epsilon_{0}}∫\frac{(x-a)\hat{y}}{((x-a)^{2}+y^{2}} dydx

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
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I figured it out. I'm too lazy to type out the solution, and since I know this could potentially help someone in the future searching for it, I'll give you the basic steps:
1. Change the integral I had in the last line to cylindrical coordinates.
[From here it's just tricky calculus]
2. Do the phi integral first and break it up into two parts
3. Here's where it gets tricky. You need to define two new variables, say A and B, where A=s^2+a^2, B=-2as.
4. Do the integrals. DO NOT do them with a calculator or other computation engine. It WILL give you wrong answer. Use an integral table or do them by hand (good luck).
5. Finding Lem is trivial from this point on, you find lem, then do the integral. Repeat steps 1-4 with the integral you get from Lem.
 
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