Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-theoretical-physics-i-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2015/paper-1/2/a/solution

Every element of the uniformly distributed mass has speed squared , so the total kinetic energy is . The extension of the ring's full circumference is , and the stated spring constant therefore gives
The magnetic coupling for each charge element is . With the symmetric gauge and tangential speed , integration over the ring gives . Thus
This idealization neglects charge self-energy, radiation and deformation away from a circular ring. The elastic constant refers to extension of the whole circumference; replacing it by a radial spring constant without the factor changes the problem.

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