Past exam of the physics 2 paper of the University of Oxford / 2017 / 8

Define $V=\varphi (r_2)-\varphi (r_1)$ and $\eta =\ln (r_2/r_1)>0$. Cylindrical symmetry and Gauss's law imply a radial electric field proportional to $1/r$. Integrating $\mathbf{E}=-\nabla \varphi$ fixes the sign:If the inner cylinder has linear charge density ${\lambda }_q$, a coaxial Gaussian surface gives $2\pi r{E}_r={\lambda }_q/{ϵ}_0$, so ${\lambda }_q=-2\pi {ϵ}_{0}V/\eta$. Capacitance is positive regardless of the chosen terminal polarity:End effects are neglected for the long cylinders, as required by the cylindrical approximation.

The electromagnetic energy density in vacuum is $u_E={ϵ}_0{E}^2/2$. For a length ${\ell }_z$ of the coaxial capacitor, integrate over annular shells:Since $C=C^{\prime }{\ell }_z=2\pi {ϵ}_0{\ell }_z/\eta$, this becomesThe integral is over the inter-cylinder electric field, and gives the stored energy, independently of which electrode is assigned zero electric potential.

Choose $\mathbf{B}=B\hat{\mathbf{z}}$ and a signed tangential velocity $\mathbf{v}=u\hat{\mathbf{\varphi }}$, with $u>0$ counterclockwise viewed from $+z$. The magnetic part of the Lorentz force is $euB\hat{\mathbf{r}}$, while the electric part is $-eV\hat{\mathbf{r}}/(\eta r)$. The radial acceleration for a circular orbit is $-u^2/r$, regardless of the sign of $u$. ConsequentlyOne valid signed-velocity convention therefore has $a=m$, $b=eBr$, $c=-eV/\ln (r_2/r_1)$. If $v$ is required to be a nonnegative speed, the two senses of rotation instead satisfywith the plus sign for counterclockwise motion. For positive $V$, the electric force is inward, so it can supply circular motion in either direction; in one direction the magnetic force opposes it, while in the other it helps. A signed negative root must not be discarded as an unphysical speed; it denotes the opposite orbit direction.

With $V=+20\mathrm{V}$ in the outer-minus-inner convention, $\eta =\ln 1.5=0.405465$ and the radial electric field at the orbit is $E_r=-986.52\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{m}}^{-1}$. The signed roots areUsing the proton mass and charge givesThe speeds are therefore $48.8$ and $96.7\mathrm{km}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$, in opposite senses of rotation. Both are nonrelativistic. The slower counterclockwise orbit has an outward magnetic force; the faster clockwise orbit has an inward magnetic force. Reversing $\mathbf{B}$ interchanges the senses, while reversing the electrode polarity changes the quadratic and may eliminate real orbits; its sign must therefore be specified.