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Cylindrical and planar symmetries yield two of the most important results in electrostatics.
Infinite line charge (linear charge density lambda): Gaussian surface: coaxial cylinder of radius r and length L. The curved surface has E perpendicular to it (and constant), while E is parallel to the flat end caps (zero flux contribution). Gauss's law: E * 2pirL = lambdaL/. Result: E = . The 1/r dependence is characteristic of cylindrical symmetry.
Uniformly charged infinite cylinder (volume charge density rho, radius R): Inside (r < R): E = rho*. Field increases linearly. Outside (r > R): E = rhoR^ = where lambda = rhopi*. Same as a line charge.
Infinite plane sheet (surface charge density sigma): Gaussian surface: pillbox (thin cylinder) straddling the sheet, with cross-sectional area A. Only the two flat faces contribute flux: 2EA = sigma*A/. Result: E = , uniform and independent of distance. This remarkable result means the field is the same whether you are 1 mm or 1 km from an infinite sheet.
Two parallel sheets with opposite charges (+sigma, -sigma): Between the sheets, fields add: E = (from + to -). Outside, fields cancel: E = 0. This creates the uniform field of a parallel plate capacitor.
Conductor surface: Using a pillbox with one face inside (E = 0) and one outside: EA = sigmaA/. Result: E = (not sigma/2*, because the field exists only on one side).