Findthe electric field a distance zfrom the center of a spherical surface of radius R(Fig. 2.11) that carries a uniform charge density σ.Treat the case z< R(inside) as well as z> R(outside). Express your answers in terms of the total chargeqon the sphere. [Hint:Use the law of cosines to write rin terms of Rand θ.Besure to take the positivesquare root:R2+z2-2Rz=(R-z)if R>z,but it's(z-R)if R<z.]

Short Answer

Expert verified

The electric field outside the spherez>RisE=14πε0qz2. The electric field outside the spherez>R isE=0.

Step by step solution

01

Write the given information.

The radius of the spherical surface isR.

The uniform surface charge densityσ.

02

Define the coulomb’s law.

Electric field due to charge at a distance is proportional to the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance as,

E=14πε0qz2

03

Draw the Gaussian surface.

The uniformly charged spherical surface of radiusR, which carries a surface density σis drawn. At a distance r from z axis, a infinitesimal area is drawn, as shown below:

Here θ,ϕ,φare the angles with respect to z,xand yaxis respectively. From the above, diagram using Pythagoras theorem in right triangle.

r2=z-Rcosϕ2+Rsinϕ2=z2+R2cos2ϕ-2Rzcosϕ+R2sin2θ=z2+R2-2Rzcosϕr=z2+R2-2Rzcosϕ

Solve further as,

cosθ=z-Rcosθr

04

Obtain the expression for electric field

The differential surface charge is obtained by multiplying density with the differential area as

dq=σR2sinθdθdϕ

The differential field due to differential charge on area can be written as

dE=14πε0dqr2cosψ.

localid="1654668265410" Substitutez2+R2-2Rzcosϕforr,2RzcosθrforcosψandσR2sinθdθdϕfordqintotheequation.

dE=14πε0σR2sinθdθdϕz2+R-2Rzcosϕ2z-Rcosθz2-2Rzcosϕ=14πε0σR2sinθdθdϕz-Rcosθz2+R2-2Rzcosϕ3/2

Integrate above differential integral as,

E=dE=14πε002πdϕ0πσR2sinθdθz-Rcosθz2+R2-2Rzcosθ3/2=14πε02π0πσR2sinθdθz-Rcosθz2+R2-2Rzcosθ3/2=2πσR24πε00πz-Rcosθsinθdθz2+R2-2Rzcosθ3/2

Consider that u=cosθ, such that du=-sinθdθ. For θ=π, u=-1and θ=0, u=1

Substitute ufor cosθ, -sinθdθfor duinto

E=2πσR24πε00πz-Rcosθsinθdθz2+R2-2Rzcosϕ3/2.

E=2πσR24πε01-1z-Ruduz2+R2-2Rzu3/2

Consider that Ru=y, such that du=dyR.

Substitute yforRu,dyRfor into

E=2πσR24πε01-1z-Ruduz2+R2-2Rzu3/2

E=2πσR4πε01-1z-ydyz2+R2-2zy3/2

Use the formula z-ydyz2+R2-2zy3/2=yz-R2z2R2+Z2-2y,to evaluate above integral aslocalid="1654672378488" E=2πσR4πε0yz-R2z2R2+z2-2y

Substitute back localid="1654672419192" Rufor localid="1654672428184" yinto E=2πσR4πε0yz-R2z2R2+z2-2yas,E=2πσR4πε0Ruz-R2z2R2+z2-2y

Apply the limits from -1to 1 into above equation.

localid="1654673197219" E=2πσR24πε0uz-Rz2R2+z2-2yRzu=2πσR24πε0z2z-RR2+z2-2Rz-z-RR2+z2-2Rz=2πσR24πε0z2z-Rz-R-z-Rz-R=2πσR24πε0z2z-Rz-R+z-Rz-R

05

Obtain the electric field for z>R

For z>Rvalues of z-Rand z+Rcan be approximated to Zonly.

Substitute ZforZ-R, Z+R, and q4πR2for σinto ,

E=2πσR24πε0z2z-Rz-R+z+Rz+RE=2πσR24πε0z2zz+zz=4πq4πR2R24πε0z2=14πε0qz2

Thus, the electric field outside the sphere isE=14πε0qz2.

06

Obtain the electric field for z<R

For z<Rvalues of z-Rand z+Rcan be approximated to -Rand Rrespectively.

Substitute role="math" localid="1654674358990" -Rfor z-R, Rfor z+Rinto, E=2πσR24πε0z2z-Rz-R+z+Rz+R.

E=2πσR24πε0z2-R-R+zRR=0

Thus, the electric field outside the sphere isE=0.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Two spherical cavities, of radii aand b,are hollowed out from the

interior of a (neutral) conducting sphere of radius(Fig. 2.49). At the center of

each cavity a point charge is placed-call these charges qaand qb.

(a) Find the surface charge densities σa,σbandσR

(b) What is the field outside the conductor?

(c) What is the field within each cavity?

(d) What is the force on qaand qb?

(e) Which of these answers would change if a third charge,qc ,were brought near

the conductor?

Find the electric field a distancesfrom an infinitely long straight wire that carries a uniform line chargeλ) ., Compare Eq. 2.9

Find the capacitance per unit length of two coaxial metal cylindrical tubes, of radiaandb.

LetG be a normal subgroup of a group and let be a homomorphism of groups such that the restriction of to is an isomorphism . Prove that , where is the kernel of f.

Imagine that new and extraordinarily precise measurements have revealed an error in Coulomb's law. The actual force of interaction between two point charges is found to be

F=14πε0q1q2r2(1+rλ)e(rλ)r^

where λ is a new constant of nature (it has dimensions of length, obviously, and is a huge number—say half the radius of the known universe—so that the correction is small, which is why no one ever noticed the discrepancy before). You are charged with the task of reformulating electrostatics to accommodate the new discovery. Assume the principle of superposition still holds.

a. What is the electric field of a charge distribution ρ (replacing Eq. 2.8)?

b. Does this electric field admit a scalar potential? Explain briefly how you reached your conclusion. (No formal proof necessary—just a persuasive argument.)

c. Find the potential of a point charge q—the analog to Eq. 2.26. (If your answer to (b) was "no," better go back and change it!) Use ∞ as your reference point.

d. For a point charge q at the origin, show that

SE.da+1λ2VVdτ=1ε0q

where S is the surface, V the volume, of any sphere centered at q.

e. Show that this result generalizes:

SE.da+1λ2VVdτ=1ε0Qenc

for any charge distribution. (This is the next best thing to Gauss's Law, in the new "electrostatics.”)

f. Draw the triangle diagram (like Fig. 2.35) for this world, putting in all the appropriate formulas. (Think of Poisson's equation as the formula for ρ in terms of V, and Gauss's law (differential form) as an equation for ρ in terms of E.)

g. Show that some of the charge on a conductor distributes itself (uniformly!) over the volume, with the remainder on the surface. [Hint: E is still zero, inside a conductor.]

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