Cylindrical Capacitor

Conducting cylinder of radius a and length L surrounded concentrically by conducting

cylindrical shell of inner radius b and equal length.

• Assumption: L  b.
• λ: charge per unit length (magnitude) on each cylinder
• Q = λL: magnitude of charge on each cylinder
• Electric field between cylinders: use Gauss’ law
λL λ
E[2πrL] = ⇒ E(r) =
0 2π0 r
• Electric potential Z r use V (a) = 0
between cylinders: −Q
λ dr λ r
Z r
V (r) = − E(r)dr = − =− ln
a 2π0 a r 2π0 a
• Voltage between cylinders: +Q
Q b b
V ≡ V+ − V− = V (a) − V (b) = ln a
2π0 L a
• Capacitance for cylindrical geometry: E
Q 2π0 L
C≡ =
V ln(b/a)

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