Cylindrical Capacitor

Conducting cylinder of radius a and length L surrounded concentrically by conducting cylindrical shell of inner radius b and equal length. Assumption: L b.

: charge per unit length (magnitude) on each cylinder Q = L: magnitude of charge on each cylinder Electric eld between cylinders: use Gauss law L E (r) = E [2rL] = 2 0 r 0 Electric potential between cylinders: Z r use V (a) = 0 Z r r dr = E (r)dr = ln V (r) = 2 0 a r 2 0 a a Voltage between cylinders: b Q ln V V+ V = V (a) V (b) = 2 0 L a Capacitance for cylindrical geometry: 2 0 L Q = C V ln(b/a)

+Q b a E

tsl105 p.1/1