Chapter 24: Q. 1 (page 682)

FIGURE EX24.1 shows two cross sections of two infinitely long coaxial cylinders. The inner cylinder has a positive charge, the outer cylinder has an equal negative charge. Draw this figure on your paper, then draw electric field vectors showing the shape of the electric field.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The direction of the electric field for two concentric oppositely charged cylinders is discovered.

Step by step solution

Step 1. Given Information

Two cross sections of two infinitely long coaxial cylinders

Step 2. Determine that if the inner cylinder has a positive charge and the outer cylinder has an equal negative charge, the electric field diagram shown below.

A positive static charge's electric field always points radially outwards from the charge, while a negative static charge's electric field always points radially inwards towards the charge.

Between two opposed charges, the electric field shifts from positive to negative charge.

Consider two coaxial cylinders with charges of opposing signs. The positive charge is in the inner cylinder, while the negative charge is in the outer cylinder. As a result, the electric field between the cylinders is radially directed from the inner to the outer. The direction of the electric field between the cylinders is depicted in the diagram below: