Problem 6.

15 A coaxial capacitor of length l = 6 cm uses an insulating dielectric

material with r = 9. The radii of the cylindrical conductors are 0.5 cm and 1 cm. If
the voltage applied across the capacitor is
V (t) = 50 sin(120 t) (V)
what is the displacement current?
Solution:
l

Id
+ r
V(t) 2a 2b
-

Figure P6.15:

To find the displacement current, we need to know E in the dielectric space between
the cylindrical conductors. From Eqs. (4.114) and (4.115),
Q
E = r ,
2 rl
Q b
V= ln .
2 l a
Hence,
V 50 sin(120 t) 72.1
E = r b = r = r sin(120 t) (V/m),
r ln a r ln 2 r
D = E
= r 0 E
72.1
= r 9 8.85 1012 sin(120 t)
r
5.75 109
= r sin(120 t) (C/m2 ).
r
The displacement current flows between the conductors through an imaginary
cylindrical surface of length l and radius r. The current flowing from the outer
conductor to the inner conductor along r crosses surface S where
S = r 2 rl.
Hence,

D 5.75 109
Id = S = r sin(120 t) (r 2 rl)
t t r
= 5.75 109 120 2 l cos(120 t)
= 0.82 cos(120 t) ( A).

Alternatively, since the coaxial capacitor is lossless, its displacement current has to
be equal to the conduction current flowing through the wires connected to the voltage
sources. The capacitance of a coaxial capacitor is given by (4.116) as

2 l
C= .
ln ba

The current is
dV 2 l
I =C = b [120 50 cos(120 t)] = 0.82 cos(120 t) ( A),
dt ln a

which is the same answer we obtained before.