Question 24
RC Railgun

Q 24. An infinitely long \(\Pi\) shaped conductor as shown is fixed horizontally on a flat surface. A capacitor of capacitance \(C\) is connected as shown. A straight conducting rod of length \(l\), mass \(m\) and resistance \(R\) is placed parallel to the line joining the capacitor as shown. Assume frictionless contact between the rod and the \(\Pi\) shaped conductor. A constant magnetic field of magnitude \(B\) is set up vertically, into the plane. The rod is initially given a velocity \(v_0\) towards the right by an impulsive force. Find the velocity of the rod and the charge on the capacitor as a function of time. Neglect the magnetic fields produced by the wires themselves.

\begin{circuitikz}
    \color{white};
    \draw (0,0) to [capacitor, l_=$C$] (0,2);
    \draw (0,0) -- (4,0);
    \draw (0,2) -- (4,2);
    \draw[densely dashed] (4,0) -- (5,0);
    \draw[densely dashed] (4,2) -- (5,2);
    \draw[very thick] (3,-.25) -- (3,2.25);
    \draw (3.85,2.35) node {$l, m, R$};
    \draw[->] (3,1) -- (3.5,1);
    \draw (4,1) node {$v_0$};
    \draw (2,1) node {$\otimes \vec{B}$};
    \end{circuitikz}


Answer:

From Faraday’s law, we can write:

\[\dot{q}R + \frac{q}{C} = vBl\tag1\]

Where \(v\) is the velocity of the rod at any general instant.

And from the Lorentz force and Newton’s law,

\[F = -iBl \Longleftrightarrow \dot{v} = \frac{-\dot{q}Bl}{m}\tag2\]

Differentiating eq (1), and substituting \(\dot{v}\) from eq (2) into it gives us

\[\ddot{q}R + \dot{q} \left( \frac{1}{C} + \frac{B^2l^2}{m} \right) = 0\tag3\]

For simplicity let’s define:

\[\kappa \overset{\text{def}}{=}\frac{1}{C} + \frac{B^2l^2}{m}\]

Solving the differential eq (3),

\[q = C_1 e^{\alpha_1 t} + C_2 e^{\alpha_2 t}\]

Where \(\alpha_1\) and \(\alpha_2\) are the roots of the equation \(D^2R+D\kappa = 0\). Substituting boundary condition, i.e. at \(t=0\), charge on capacitor \(q=0\), and initial current \(i_0 = \frac{v_0 Bl}{R}\), we get:

\[q = \frac{v_0 Bl}{\kappa}\left( 1 - e^{-\frac{\kappa}{R} t} \right)\tag4\]

Here, we see that \[\tau \overset{\text{def}}{=} R / \kappa\] plays the role of time constant.

Note that the final charge on the capacitor, at \(t=\infty\):

\[q\big|_{t=\infty} = \frac{v_0 B l}{\kappa}\]

Further, current as a function of time:

\[i = \dot{q} = \frac{v_0 B l R }{\kappa^2} e^{-t/\tau}\tag5\]

Substituting this is eq (2), and integrating with appropriate limits, we get velocity of the rod as a function of time,

\[v = \frac{v_0 B^2 l^2 R^2}{\kappa^3 m} \left( 1 - e^{-t/\tau}\right) + v_0\tag6\]

Further, we can say that:

\[P = i^2 R\]

\[\implies \int dH = \frac{v_0^2B^2l^2R^3}{\kappa^4} \int_0^\infty e^{-2t/\tau}dt\]

\[\implies H = \frac{v_0^2B^2l^2R^4}{2\kappa^5}\tag7\]

This is the total heat lost due to current in the resistor(rod).

We can also find the final kinetic energy of the rod.

\[K_{f,rod} = \frac{1}{2} m v_0^2 \left( \frac{B^2l^2R^2}{\kappa^3m} + 1\right) ^2\tag8\]

Also, The final energy stored in the capacitor,

\[E_{capacitor} = \frac{q^2}{2C}\]

\[E = \frac{v_0^2B^2l^2}{2C\kappa^2}\tag9\]