Can the Last Maxwell's Equation Explain Polarization of a Wire's Insulator?

  • #1
BlackMelon
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7
Hi there!

Recently, I have been reading about polarization of a wire's insulator. First of all, I want to see a connection between the last Maxwell's Equation:
$$\nabla\times\\B\ =\mu_0\ J\ +\mu_0\ \epsilon_0\ \frac{\partial E}{\partial t}$$
and the polarization.

So I draw a simple cartoon below. Here, there is a wire carrying current J.
The inner cylinder is a conductor. The outer shell is an insulator.
Somehow the insulator get polarized (may be by external charges or whatever) such that + is on the red side - is on the black side.
The red and the black keeps swapping themselves back and forth, so does their electric field.

After I summed J and dE/dt and apply the Maxwell's last equation, I found the magnetic field B like a disc, tilting back and forth.

I would like to know if the scenario I made is correct?

If so, could you please suggest any scenario else to explain this equation?

Best
BlackMelon
MaxWell Last Eq (1).jpg
 
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  • #2
The B- Field around a current carrying wire is Ampere's Law and it should be a regular circle. The cross product means it is perpendicular.
1697647001975.png


The only way polarity flips is if the current is AC. Maxwell's version adds the electric field to it.
 
  • #3
osilmag said:
The B- Field around a current carrying wire is Ampere's Law and it should be a regular circle. The cross product means it is perpendicular. View attachment 333794

The only way polarity flips is if the current is AC. Maxwell's version adds the electric field to it.

Curl (V1) = V2 means that V1 is perpendicular to V2, right?
From the Maxwell's Equation Curl(B) = u0J +u0e0(dE/dt)
means B is perpendicular to the summation of u0J and u0e0E (since dE/dt has either the same or reversed direction of E)

In my case, it is not the current that flips its polarity (B field is always counter clockwise) , but the electric field itself. And the electric field comes from the + charges and - charges inside the wire's insulator. Normally, they mixed together and create no total electric field. But this time, + grouped themselves together on one side, - did so on the other side. These two groups keep swapping themselves back and forth. The plane of B field tilts up and down. I just wonder if this case exist in real world situation?
1697868655517.png
 
  • #4
BlackMelon said:
Curl (V1) = V2 means that V1 is perpendicular to V2, right?
Wrong. Consider ##\mathbf{V}_1 = y\mathbf{\hat{x}} + x\mathbf{\hat{y}} + y\mathbf{\hat{z}}##.

BlackMelon said:
Hi there!

Recently, I have been reading about polarization of a wire's insulator. First of all, I want to see a connection between the last Maxwell's Equation:
$$\nabla\times\\B\ =\mu_0\ J\ +\mu_0\ \epsilon_0\ \frac{\partial E}{\partial t}$$
and the polarization.
What reading have you been doing? Because I haven't seen the polarization field in any of your equations. If you want to use that form of the equation, the polarization field must be in your current term so that ##\mathbf{J} = \mathbf{J}_{f} + \frac{\partial \mathbf{P}}{\partial t}##. Here ##\mathbf{J}_{f}## is the free current that is only in the wire, and ##\frac{\partial \mathbf{P}}{\partial t}## is the polarization current that is only in the insulator. For a linear insulator of course ##\mathbf{P} = \chi \epsilon_0 \mathbf{E}## so that the relative permitivity is ##\epsilon_r = 1+\chi##. I usually find it easier to work with ##\mathbf{D} = \epsilon_0 \mathbf{E} + \mathbf{P} = \epsilon_r \epsilon_0 \mathbf{E}##. If you haven't seen this stuff before then you need to do more reading.

EDIT: if you want to understand the bound and free charge densities, then you will want to look at things like ##-\mathbf{\nabla \cdot P} = \rho_{b}## which is the volumetric bound charge density, ##\mathbf{\hat{n} \cdot P} = \sigma_b## is the bound surface charge density, ##\mathbf{\hat{n} \cdot D} = \sigma_f## is the free surface charge density, and ##\mathbf{\nabla \cdot D} = \rho_{f}## is the volumetric free charge density.

Note that your problem has azimuthal symmetry, but your sketches of what you think is going on with the polarization do not have that symmetry. That is a clue that you are not doing something right.

jason
 
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1. Can the last Maxwell's equation explain polarization of a wire's insulator?

Yes, the last Maxwell's equation, also known as Gauss's law for magnetism, can explain the polarization of a wire's insulator. When a wire is surrounded by an insulator, the electric field within the insulator causes the atoms or molecules to become polarized, aligning in a way that creates a net dipole moment.

2. How does polarization of a wire's insulator affect the flow of current?

The polarization of a wire's insulator can affect the flow of current by creating an electric field within the insulator that can either enhance or impede the flow of current through the wire. This can lead to effects such as increased capacitance or resistance in the wire.

3. What role does the polarization of a wire's insulator play in signal transmission?

The polarization of a wire's insulator plays a crucial role in signal transmission by influencing the propagation of electromagnetic waves along the wire. The polarized insulator can affect the velocity and attenuation of the signal, ultimately impacting the quality and integrity of the transmitted signal.

4. Can the polarization of a wire's insulator be controlled or manipulated?

Yes, the polarization of a wire's insulator can be controlled and manipulated through various means such as applying an external electric field, changing the material composition of the insulator, or altering the temperature of the insulator. These methods can be used to tailor the polarization properties of the insulator for specific applications.

5. Are there any practical applications of understanding the polarization of a wire's insulator?

Yes, understanding the polarization of a wire's insulator has several practical applications in various fields such as telecommunications, electronics, and materials science. It can be used to design and optimize high-performance cables, improve signal transmission efficiency, and develop advanced electronic devices with enhanced functionality.

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