Find the resistivity

A plane divides space into two halves. One half is filled with a homogeneous conducting medium and physicists work in the other. They mark the outline of a square of side a on the plane and let a current I_0 in and out at two of its neighboring corners using fine electrodes. Meanwhile, they measure the potential difference V between the other two corners. (see figure)

What is the resistivity of the homogeneous medium in terms of the given data?

32 Answers

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

is d ans resistivity=1/4pie0I0 e0- epsilon0

9
Celestine preetham ·

can this problem be done using jee portions ?

1
Rohan Ghosh ·

hmm great problem ad solution too ...

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

gr8 solution sir..........

but still not gettin it completely..

ve to look at d solution more carefully..........

66
kaymant ·

Okay, here is the solution. Usually, when encountering problems having infinite extensions, superposition principle comes to mind. Here also, we use superposition to combine separate discussions of current flowing in and out. First, we send the current into A and collect it at infinity. Then, we send the current at infinity and collect it at B. When we superpose the two situation, we get the situation of the problem.

When the current I0 is sent into A and collected at infinity, it is distributed hemispherically symmetrically in the half plane containing the conducting medium. That means that the current density j at a distance r from A is given by
j(r)=\dfrac{I_0}{2\pi r^2}
As per Ohm's law in the local form \vec{j}(r)=\dfrac{\vec{E}(r)}{\rho} (here \rho is the resistivity and \vec{E}), we get the magnitude of electric field at a distance r from A as
E(r)=\dfrac{I_0\rho}{2\pi r^2}
The potential at a distance r can be obtained by integrating the field. However, in this case, we get it by comparison of a point charge. We note that the field of a point charge varies as \dfrac{1}{r^2} and the potential only as \dfrac{1}{r} and the coefficient of \dfrac{1}{r^2} and \dfrac{1}{r} are the same. In the present case also the field is varying as \dfrac{1}{r^2}, so the potential must be
V(r)=\dfrac{I_0\rho}{2\pi r}
Hence, the potential difference between C and D, when current is sent at A and collected at infinity is
\Delta V_1=\dfrac{I_0\rho}{2\pi a}-\dfrac{I_0\rho}{2\pi a\sqrt{2}}=\dfrac{I_0\rho}{4\pi a}(2-\sqrt{2})
We next send the current at infinity and collect it as B. Everything is the same except the signs of the quantities. The potential difference between C and D is therefore the same.

So when we superpose, the potential difference between C and D becomes twice of what we calculated above. Hence,
V_0=2\Delta V_1=\dfrac{\rho I_0}{2\pi a}(2-\sqrt{2})
Accordingly, the resistivity can be found as
\boxed{\rho = (2+\sqrt{2})\dfrac{\pi a V_0}{I_0}}

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

sir,

seems dat no one is tryin dis prob.........

pls guide me d ans before d encounter exam

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

back again to try dis..;-)

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

resistivity can be given as rho=E/J
E-ELECTRIC FIELD
J-CURRENT DENSITY...

i think m makin a mistake in calculatin d field........... cldn get d question properly.........

66
kaymant ·

no..its way too far..
how did you reach to your conclusion?

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

a slight change ll give d ans?????????????

66
kaymant ·

its not correct

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

resistivity ,sir..........;-)

66
kaymant ·

In #18, what answer are you giving? the field or the resistivity?

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

am i rit upto post no #11???????

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

i don understand wat u r sayin.........

feeling asleep

66
kaymant ·

that is dimensionally wrong.

66
kaymant ·

no one?

66
kaymant ·

Find the electric field inside the conducting half plane.. that's the hint [1]

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

U ASKED ME WAT IS E ......... E - electric field.....

giv me a toughest clue to find d ans........;-)

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

sir...................................................;-)

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

electric field.........

66
kaymant ·

what is that E appearing in your answer?

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

sir........

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

Ea2/I0

66
kaymant ·

No, Ram... your answer is not right.

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

no one?????????

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

is dat rit sir??????????

i kno its 99% wron...:-)

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

(V/I0)*a

??????????

1
Pavithra Ramamoorthy ·

u ve mistaken............. sir is askin resistivity,,,, not resistance.....

11
virang1 Jhaveri ·

Would not it be V/I

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