In cylindrical coordinate system, the potential produced by a uniform ring charge is given by , where is a continuous function of and . Let be the resulting electric field. Then the magnitude of
- Aincreases with r
- Bis 0
- Cis 3
- Ddecreases with z
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
The question asks for the magnitude of the curl of the electric field, denoted as , where is the electric field produced by a uniform ring charge described by a potential in cylindrical coordinates.
Understanding the Curl of an Electric Field
In electrostatics, the electric field is always conservative. A conservative field is one for which the work done in moving a charge between two points is independent of the path taken. A fundamental property of conservative vector fields is that their curl is always the zero vector.
The relationship between the electric field and the scalar electric potential is given by:
The curl of the electric field is calculated as . Substituting the relationship between and :
A key identity in vector calculus states that the curl of a gradient of any scalar function (like potential ) is always zero:
Therefore, for any electrostatic field derived from a scalar potential:
**Magnitude of **
The result means that the curl of the electric field is the zero vector.
The magnitude of the zero vector is simply 0.
The specific details of the charge distribution (uniform ring charge) and the coordinate system (cylindrical) define the potential function and the resulting electric field . However, the property that the curl of an electrostatic field is zero is universal and independent of these specifics. It stems from the fact that the electrostatic field is derivable from a scalar potential.
Conclusion
Since the electric field originates from a scalar potential , it is an electrostatic field. All electrostatic fields are conservative, meaning their curl is zero. Consequently, the magnitude of is 0.
Based on this, the correct option is that the magnitude of is 0.
Understanding the Curl of an Electric Field
In electrostatics, the electric field is always conservative. A conservative field is one for which the work done in moving a charge between two points is independent of the path taken. A fundamental property of conservative vector fields is that their curl is always the zero vector.
The relationship between the electric field and the scalar electric potential is given by:
The curl of the electric field is calculated as . Substituting the relationship between and :
A key identity in vector calculus states that the curl of a gradient of any scalar function (like potential ) is always zero:
Therefore, for any electrostatic field derived from a scalar potential:
**Magnitude of **
The result means that the curl of the electric field is the zero vector.
The magnitude of the zero vector is simply 0.
The specific details of the charge distribution (uniform ring charge) and the coordinate system (cylindrical) define the potential function and the resulting electric field . However, the property that the curl of an electrostatic field is zero is universal and independent of these specifics. It stems from the fact that the electrostatic field is derivable from a scalar potential.
Conclusion
Since the electric field originates from a scalar potential , it is an electrostatic field. All electrostatic fields are conservative, meaning their curl is zero. Consequently, the magnitude of is 0.
Based on this, the correct option is that the magnitude of is 0.