Question

Consider a long cylindrical charge distribution of radius R with a uniform charge density rho. Find the electric field at distance r from the axis where r < R. (Use ε0, rho, R, and r as necessary.)

Answer 1

Answer: Ok, first lest see out problem.

It says it's a Long cylindrical charge distribution, So you can ignore the border effects on the ends of the cylinder.

Also by the gauss law we know that E¨*2*pi*r*L = Q/ε0

where Q is the total charge inside our gaussian surface, that will be a cylinder of radius r and heaight L.

So Q= rho*volume= pi*r*r*L*rho

so replacing : E = (1/2)*r*rho/ε0

you may ask, ¿why dont use R on the solution?

since you are calculating the field inside the cylinder, and the charge density is uniform inside of it, you don't see the charge that is outside, and in your calculation actuali doesn't matter how much charge is outside your gaussian surface, so R does not have an effect on the calculation.

R would matter if in the problem they give you the total charge of the cylinder, so when you only have the charge of a smaller r radius cylinder, you will have a relation between r and R that describes how much charge density you are enclosing.