Is There an Electric Field Inside a Cylindrical Conductor with a Steady Current?

In summary, there is an electric field inside a cylindrical conductor when a steady current passes through it. This is due to the potential difference created by the flow of current, which causes the electrons to move and produce the current.
  • #1
Abhishekdas
208
0
Electric current...

Homework Statement


When a steady current passes through a cylindrical conductor , is there an electric field inside the conductor?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


How do i approach this...? I mean i know -E.dx = dV in electrostatics...So going by that here current is flowing so there is ome potential difference and so there should be a field given by -V/x ehre V is PD and x is length of wire...IS this right?
 
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  • #2


yes there is electric field.
this is very simple as if there was no field ... why would the electrons move to produce current?
 
  • #3


Ya...so is my explanation correct?
 

FAQ: Is There an Electric Field Inside a Cylindrical Conductor with a Steady Current?

What is an electric field inside a cylindrical conductor with a steady current?

An electric field is a physical quantity that describes the force exerted on a charged particle in an electric field. In a cylindrical conductor with a steady current, the electric field is the force per unit charge exerted on a charged particle moving through the conductor.

Is there really no electric field inside a cylindrical conductor with a steady current?

Yes, there is no electric field inside a cylindrical conductor with a steady current. This is known as the "no field inside" principle, which states that in a steady state, the electric field inside a conductor is zero. This is because the charges inside the conductor are in equilibrium and do not experience any net force.

How does the electric field inside a cylindrical conductor with a steady current affect the current?

The electric field inside a cylindrical conductor with a steady current does not affect the current. This is because the current is determined by the potential difference between the ends of the conductor, and the electric field inside the conductor has no impact on this potential difference.

Can the electric field inside a cylindrical conductor with a steady current change?

No, the electric field inside a cylindrical conductor with a steady current cannot change. This is because the charges inside the conductor are in equilibrium and any change in the electric field would result in a net force on the charges, which would cause them to move and disrupt the steady current.

Are there any exceptions to the "no field inside" principle for a cylindrical conductor with a steady current?

Yes, there are some exceptions to the "no field inside" principle. One exception is when the conductor is not a perfect cylinder, such as when there are gaps or breaks in the conductor. In these cases, there may be a non-zero electric field inside the conductor. Additionally, the principle only applies to steady currents and does not hold for time-varying currents.

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