Electricity and Magnetism · Problem 5.5

THE MAGNETIC FIELD — Edward Purcell & David Morin

Physics — E&M · e-from-a-line-of-moving-charges

Problem

EE from a line of moving charges ** An essentially continuous stream of point charges moves with speed vv along the xx axis. The stream extends from −∞-\infty to +∞+\infty. Let the charge density per unit length be λ\lambda, as measured in the lab frame. We know from using a cylindrical Gaussian surface that the electric field a distance rr from the xx axis is E=λ/2πϵ0rE = \lambda/2\pi\epsilon_0 r. Derive this result again by using Eq. (5.15) and integrating over all of the moving charges. You will want to use a computer or the integral table in Appendix K.

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