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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
Two cylindrical conductors with equal cross-sections and different resistivities ρ1 and ρ2 are put end to end. Find the charge at the boundary of the conductors if a current I flows from conductor 1 to conductor 2.
PhysicsCurrent ElectricityJEE Main
Options:
  • A ε0ρ2-ρ1I
  • B ε02ρ2+ρ1I
  • C 2ε0ρ1-ρ2I
  • D ε0ρ1+ρ2I
Solution:
2417 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: ε0ρ2-ρ1I
According to ohm's law,E=ρJ

The problem is solved by the following steps:

Step I: Determine the electric field in both conductors.

The current density in the first conductor is

J1=IπR2(Along the length of the conductor)



Similarly, J2=IπR2  (along the length of the conductor)

The electric field inside the first conductor is
      E2=ρ2IπR2  (along the length of the conductor)

Step II: Consider small cylindrical region near the boundary and apply Gauss's law:

We consider a small cylindrical region at the boundary



The area of the cylindrical region is

S = πR2​   
The net flux through this region is

ϕ = ϕ 1 + ϕ 2 = E 1 . S + E 2 S

= E1S cos 180° + E2S cos0°= - E1S + E2S = (E2 - E1) S

According to Gauss's Law,

ϕ = q ε 0

or E 2 - E 1 = q S ε 0 = σ ε 0

∴ The surface charge density at the boundary is

σ = (E2 - E1) ε0

Putting the value of E1 and E2, we get

 σ = (ρ2j - ρ1j)    or    σ = (ρ2 - ρ1)j

σ = ε 0 ρ 2 - ρ 1 I π R 2

or  σπR2= ε0(ρ2 - ρ1)I

or q = ε0(ρ2 - ρ1)I

Charge at the boundary q = ε0(ρ2 - ρ1)I

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