Chapter 22 The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions

Conceptual Problems
1 Figure 22-37 shows an L-shaped object that has sides which are equal in length. Positive charge is distributed uniformly along the length of the object. What is the direction of the electric field along the dashed 45o line? Explain your answer. Determine the Concept The resultant field is the superposition of the electric fields due to the charge distributions along the axes and is directed along the dashed line, pointing away from the intersection of the two sides of the L-shaped object. This can be seen by dividing each leg of the object into 10 (or more) equal segments and then drawing the electric field on the dashed line due to the charges on each pair of segments that are equidistant from the intersection of the legs. 7 An electric dipole is completely inside a closed imaginary surface and there are no other charges. True or False: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) The electric field is zero everywhere on the surface. The electric field is normal to the surface everywhere on the surface. The electric flux through the surface is zero. The electric flux through the surface could be positive or negative. The electric flux through a portion of the surface might not be zero.

(a) False. Near the positive end of the dipole, the electric field, in accordance with Coulombs law, will be directed outward and will be nonzero. Near the negative end of the dipole, the electric field, in accordance with Coulombs law, will be directed inward and will be nonzero. (b) False. The electric field is perpendicular to the Gaussian surface only at the intersections of the surface with a line defined by the axis of the dipole. (c) True. Because the net charge enclosed by the Gaussian surface is zero, the net flux, given by net = En dA = 4kQinside , through this surface must be zero.
S

19

20

Chapter 22

(d) False. The flux through the closed surface is zero. (e) True. All Gausss law tells us is that, because the net charge inside the surface is zero, the net flux through the surface must be zero.

9 Suppose that the total charge on the conducting spherical shell in Figure 22-38 is zero. The negative point charge at the center has a magnitude given by Q. What is the direction of the electric field in the following regions? (a) r < R1 , (b) R2 > r > R1 , (c) and r > R2 . Explain your answer. Determine the Concept We can apply Gausss law to determine the electric field for r < R1, R2 > r > R1, and r > R2. We also know that the direction of an electric field at any point is determined by the direction of the electric force acting on a positively charged object located at that point.

(a) From the application of Gausss law we know that the electric field in this region is not zero. A positively charged object placed in the region for which r < R1 will experience an attractive force from the charge Q located at the center of the shell. Hence the direction of the electric field is radially inward. (b) Because the total charge on the conducting sphere is zero, the charge on its inner surface is +Q (the positive charges in the conducting sphere are drawn there by the negative charge at the center of the shell) and the charge on its outer surface is Q. Applying Gausss law in the region R2 > r > R1 (the net charge enclosed by a Gaussian surface of radius r is zero) leads to the conclusion that the electric field in this region is zero. It has no direction. (c) Because the charge on the outer surface of the conducting shell is negative, the electric field in the region r > R2 is radially inward.

r Calculating E From Coulombs Law

13 A uniform line charge that has a linear charge density equal to 3.5 nC/m is on the x axis between x = 0 and x = 5.0 m. (a) What is its total charge? Find the electric field on the x axis at (b) x = 6.0 m, (c) x = 9.0 m, and (d) x = 250 m. (e) Estimate the electric field at x = 250 m, using the approximation that the charge is a point charge on the x axis at x = 2.5 m, and compare your result with the result calculated in Part (d). (To do this you will need to assume that the values given in this problem statement are valid to more

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions than two significant figures.) Is your approximate result greater or smaller than the exact result? Explain your answer.

21

Picture the Problem (a) We can use the definition of to find the total charge of the line of charge. (b), (c) and (d) Equation 22-2b gives the electric field on the axis of a finite line of charge. In Part (e) we can apply Coulombs law for the electric field due to a point charge to approximate the electric field at x = 250 m. In the following diagram, L = 5.0 m and P is a generic point on the x axis.
r1
+ + + + + + + + +

r2 P 9.0 250

x, m

5.0 6.0

(a) Use the definition of linear charge density to express Q in terms of : The electric field on the axis of a finite line charge is given by Equation 22-2b:

Q = L = (3.5 nC/m )(5.0 m ) = 17.5 nC = 18 nC

1 1 E x = k r r 2 1

(b) Substitute numerical values and evaluate Ex = 6.0 m:

N m2 C 1 1 3.5 109 Ex = 6.0 m = 8.988 109 = 26 N/C 2 C m 6.0 m 5.0 m 6.0 m

(c) Substitute numerical values and evaluate Ex = 9.0 m:

E x = 9.0 m

2 C 1 1 9 N m 3.5 109 = 8.988 10 = 4.4 N/C 2 C m 9.0 m 5.0 m 9.0 m

(d) Substitute numerical values and evaluate Ex at x = 250 m:

N m2 C 1 1 3.5 10 9 E x = 250 m = 8.988 109 2 C m 250 m 5.0 m 250 m = 2.56800 mN/C = 2.6 mN/C (e) Using the approximation that the charge is a point charge on the x axis at x = 2.5 m, Coulombs law gives:
Ex = kQ (r1 1 L )2 2

22

Chapter 22

Substitute numerical values and evaluate Ex = 250 m:

E x = 250 m =

(8.988 10 N m /C )(17.5 nC) = 2.56774 mN/C =

9 2 2

(250 m 1 (5.0 m ))2 2

2.6 mN/C

This result is about 0.01% less than the exact value obtained in (d). This suggests that the line of charge can be modeled to within 0.01% as that due to a point charge. 17 A ring that has radius a lies in the z = 0 plane with its center at the origin. The ring is uniformly charged and has a total charge Q. Find Ez on the z axis at (a) z = 0.2a, (b) z = 0.5a, (c) z = 0.7a, (d) z = a, and (e) z = 2a. (f) Use your results to plot Ez versus z for both positive and negative values of z. (Assume that these distances are exact.)
Picture the Problem The electric field at a distance z from the center of a ring kQz whose charge is Q and whose radius is a is given by E z = . 32 2 z + a2

(a) Evaluating Ez = 0.2a gives:

Ez = 0.2 a =

[(0.2a ) + a ]
2

kQ(0.2a )

2 32

= 0.189

kQ a2 kQ a2 kQ a2

(b) Evaluating Ez = 0.5a gives:

E z = 0.5a =

[(0.5a ) + a ]
2

kQ(0.5a )

2 3 2

= 0.358

(c) Evaluating Ez = 0.7a gives:

E z = 0.7 a =

[(0.7a ) + a ]
2

kQ(0.7a )

2 3 2

= 0.385

(d) Evaluating Ez = a gives:

Ez = a =

[a

kQa
2

+ a2

3 2

= 0.354

kQ a2

(e) Evaluating Ez = 2a gives:

Ez = 2a =

[(2a ) + a ]
2

2kQa

2 3 2

= 0.179

kQ a2

(f) The field along the z axis is plotted below. The z coordinates are in units of z/a and E is in units of kQ/a2.

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions

0.4

23

0.2

Ez

0.0

-0.2

-0.4 -3 -2 -1 0 z/a 1 2 3

25 Calculate the electric field a distance z from a uniformly charged infinite flat non-conducting sheet by modeling the sheet as a continuum of infinite circular rings of charge. Picture the Problem The field at a point on the axis of a uniformly charged ring lies along the axis and is given by Equation 22-8. The diagram shows one ring of the continuum of circular rings of charge. The radius of the ring is a and the distance from its center to the field point P is z. The ring has a uniformly distributed charge Q. The resultant electric field at P is the sum of the fields due to the continuum of circular rings. Note that, by symmetry, the horizontal components of the electric field cancel.

da z P
r dE

Express the field of a single uniformly charged ring with charge Q and radius a on the axis of the ring at a distance z away from the plane of the ring:

r E = E z i , where E z =

(z

kQz
2

+ a2

32

Substitute dq for Q and dEz for Ez to obtain: The resultant electric field at P is the sum of the fields due to all the circular rings. Integrate both sides to calculate

dE z =

(z (z

kzdq
2

+ a2

32

E=

kzdq
2

+a

2 32

= kz

(z

dq
2

+ a2

32

24

Chapter 22

the resultant field for the entire plane. The field point remains fixed, so z is constant: To evaluate this integral we change integration variables from q to a. The charge dq = dA where dA = 2 a da is the area of a ring of radius a and width da:
dq = 2 a da so 2 a da E = kz 2 2 32 0 x +a

= 2 kz
0

(z

a da
2

+ a2

32

To integrate this expression, let

u = z 2 + a 2 . Then:

du =

1 2

1
z2 + a

(2ada ) = a da 2
u

or ada = udu Noting that when a = 0, u = z, substitute and simplify to obtain: Evaluating the integral yields:

E = 2 kz

u du = 2 kz u 2 du 3 u x x

1 E = 2 kz = 2k = 20 uz

Gausss Law
r 29 An electric field is given by E = sign ( x ) (300 N/C) i , where sign(x) equals 1 if x < 0, 0 if x = 0, and +1 if x > 0. A cylinder of length 20 cm and radius 4.0 cm has its center at the origin and its axis along the x axis such that one end is at x = +10 cm and the other is at x = 10 cm. (a) What is the electric flux through each end? (b) What is the electric flux through the curved surface of the cylinder? (c) What is the electric flux through the entire closed surface? (d) What is the net charge inside the cylinder?
Picture the Problem The field at both circular faces of the cylinder is parallel to the outward vector normal to the surface, so the flux is just EA. There is no flux through the curved surface because the normal to that surface is perpendicular r to E . The net flux through the closed surface is related to the net charge inside by Gausss law.

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions

25

(a) Use Gausss law to calculate the flux through the right circular surface:

right = E right nright A

2 = (300 N/C ) i i ( )(0.040 m )

= 1.5 N m 2 /C
left = E left nleft A = 1.5 N m 2 /C r

Apply Gausss law to the left circular surface:

2 = ( 300 N/C ) i i ( )(0.040 m )

( )

(b) Because the field lines are parallel to the curved surface of the cylinder: (c) Express and evaluate the net flux through the entire cylindrical surface:

curved = 0

net = right + left + curved

= 1.5 N m 2 /C + 1.5 N m 2 /C + 0 = 3.0 N m 2 /C

(d) Apply Gausss law to obtain:

net = 4kQinside Qinside =

net 4k

Substitute numerical values and evaluate Qinside :

Qinside =

3.0 N m 2 /C 4 8.988 10 9 N m 2 /C 2

= 2.7 10 11 C
33 A single point charge is placed at the center of an imaginary cube that has 20-cm-long edges. The electric flux out of one of the cubes sides is 1.50 kNm2/C. How much charge is at the center?

26

Chapter 22

Picture the Problem The net flux through the cube is given by net = Qinside 0 , where Qinside is the charge at the center of the cube.

The flux through one side of the cube is one-sixth of the total flux through the cube: Solving for Qinside yields:

1 faces = 1 net = 6

Qinside 60

Qinside = 6 0 2 faces

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions Substitute numerical values and evaluate Qinside :

27

Qinside

C2 kN m 2 8.854 10 12 1.50 = 79.7 nC = 6 N m2 C2

Gausss Law Applications in Spherical Symmetry Situations

39 A non-conducting sphere of radius 6.00 cm has a uniform volume charge density of 450 nC/m3. (a) What is the total charge on the sphere? Find the electric field at the following distances from the spheres center: (b) 2.00 cm, (c) 5.90 cm, (d) 6.10 cm, and (e) 10.0 cm.

(a) Using the definition of volume charge density, relate the charge on the sphere to its volume: Substitute numerical values and evaluate Q:

Q = V = 4 r 3 3

Q = 4 450 nC/m 3 (0.0600 m ) 3 = 0.4072 nC = 0.407 nC

Apply Gausss law to a spherical surface of radius r < R that is concentric with the spherical shell to obtain: Noting that, due to symmetry, En = Er , solve for Er to obtain: Because the charge distribution is uniform, we can find the charge inside the Gaussian surface by using the definition of volume charge density to establish the proportion: Solve for Qinside to obtain:

En dA =

Qinside 4 r 2 En =

Qinside

Er =

Qinside 1 kQinside = 4 0 r 2 r2

Q Qinside = V V' where V is the volume of the Gaussian surface.

Qinside

r3 V' =Q =Q 3 R V
Qinside 1 kQ r = 4 0 r 2 R 3

Substitute for Qinside to obtain:

Er < R =

28

Chapter 22

(b) Evaluate Er = 2.00 cm:

Er = 2.00 cm =

(8.988 10

N m 2 /C2 (0.4072 nC) (0.0200 m ) = 339 N/C (0.0600 m)3

(c) Evaluate Er = 5.90 cm:

Er = 5.90 cm

(8.988 10 =

N m 2 /C 2 (0.4072 nC) (0.0590 m) = 1.00 kN/C (0.0600 m)3

4 r 2 Er = Qinside

Apply Gausss law to the Gaussian surface with r > R: (d) Evaluate Er = 6.10 cm:

Er =

kQinside kQ = 2 r2 r

Er = 6.10 cm =
(e) Evaluate Er = 10.0 cm:

(8.988 10

N m 2 /C 2 (0.4072 nC) = 983 N/C (0.0610 m)2

Er = 10.0 cm

(8.988 10 =

N m 2 /C 2 (0.4072 nC) = 366 N/C (0.100 m )2

43 A sphere of radius R has volume charge density = B/r for r < R , where B is a constant and = 0 for r > R. (a) Find the total charge on the sphere. (b) Find the expressions for the electric field inside and outside the charge distribution (c) Sketch the magnitude of the electric field as a function of the distance r from the spheres center. Picture the Problem We can find the total charge on the sphere by expressing the charge dq in a spherical shell and integrating this expression between r = 0 and r = R. By symmetry, the electric fields must be radial. To find Er inside the charged sphere we choose a spherical Gaussian surface of radius r < R. To find Er outside the charged sphere we choose a spherical Gaussian surface of radius r > R. On each of these surfaces, Er is constant. Gausss law then relates Er to the total charge inside the surface.

(a) Express the charge dq in a shell of thickness dr and volume 4r2 dr:

dq = 4 r 2 dr = 4 r 2 = 4Brdr

B dr r

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions Integrate this expression from r = 0 to R to find the total charge on the sphere:
Q == 4B rdr = 2Br 2
0

29

R
0

= 2BR 2

(b) Apply Gausss law to a spherical surface of radius r > R that is concentric with the nonconducting sphere to obtain: Solving for Er yields:

Er dA =

Qinside or 4 r 2 Er =

Qinside

Er > R = =

Qinside 1 kQinside = 4 0 r 2 r2 k 2BR 2 BR 2 = r2 2 0 r 2

1 Qinside 4 r 2 Er = Qinside

Apply Gausss law to a spherical surface of radius r < R that is concentric with the nonconducting sphere to obtain: Solving for Er yields:

Er dA =

Er < R =

Qinside B 2Br 2 = = 2 2 4 r 0 4 r 0 2 0

(c) The following graph of Er versus r/R, with Er in units of B/(20), was plotted using a spreadsheet program.
1.2 1.0 0.8 E r 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 r /R 2.0 2.5 3.0

Remarks: Note that our results for (a) and (b) agree at r = R.

30

Chapter 22

Gausss Law Applications in Cylindrical Symmetry Situations

51 A solid cylinder of length 200 m and radius 6.00 cm has a uniform volume charge density of 300 nC/m3. (a) What is the total charge of the cylinder? Use the formulas given in Problem 50 to calculate the electric field at a point equidistant from the ends at the following radial distances from the cylindrical axis: (b) 2.00 cm, (c) 5.90 cm, (d) 6.10 cm, and (e) 10.0 cm. Picture the Problem We can use the definition of volume charge density to find the total charge on the cylinder. From symmetry, the electric field tangent to the surface of the cylinder must vanish. We can construct a Gaussian surface in the shape of a cylinder of radius r and length L and apply Gausss law to find the electric field as a function of the distance from the centerline of the uniformly charged cylinder.

(a) Use the definition of volume charge density to express the total charge of the cylinder: Substitute numerical values to obtain:

Qtotal = V = R 2 L

)
2

Qtotal = 300 nC/m3 (0.0600 m ) (200 m ) = 679 nC

Er < R =

(b) From Problem 50, for r < R, we have: For r = 2.00 cm:

r 2 0

Er = 2.00 cm =
(c) For r = 5.90 cm:

(300 nC/m )(0.0200 m) = 2(8.854 10 C /N m )

3

12

339 N/C

Er = 5.90 cm =

(300 nC/m )(0.0590 m) = 2(8.854 10 C /N m )

3

12

1.00 kN/C

From Problem 50, for r > R, we have:

Er >R =

R 2 2 0 r

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions (d) For r = 6.10 cm:
Er = 6.10 cm =

31

(300 nC/m )(0.0600 m) = 2(8.854 10 C /N m )(0.0610 m )

3 2 12 2 2

1.00 kN/C

(e) For r = 10.0 cm:

Er = 10.0 cm

(300 nC/m )(0.0600 m) = = 2(8.854 10 C /N m )(0.100 m )

3 2 12 2 2

610 N/C

55 An infinitely long non-conducting solid cylinder of radius a has a nonuniform volume charge density. This density varies with R, the perpendicular distance from its axis, according to (R) = bR2, where b is a constant. (a) Show that the linear charge density of the cylinder is given by = ba4/2. (b) Find expressions for the electric field for R < a and R > a. Picture the Problem From symmetry; the field tangent to the surface of the cylinder must vanish. We can construct a Gaussian surface in the shape of a cylinder of radius R and length L and apply Gausss law to find the electric field as a function of the distance from the centerline of the infinitely long nonconducting cylinder.

(a) Apply Gausss law to a cylindrical surface of radius R and length L that is concentric with the infinitely long nonconducting cylinder: Noting that, due to symmetry, En = E R , solve for ER to obtain: Express dQinside for (R) = bR2:

0 0 where weve neglected the end areas because there is no flux through them.
S

En dA =

Qinside 2RLEn =

Qinside

ER =

Qinside 2RL 0

(1)

dQinside = (R )dV = bR 2 (2RL )dR = 2bR 3 LdR

Integrate dQinside from 0 to a to obtain:

Qinside

R4 = 2bL R dr = 2bL 4 0 0 bL 4 = a 2
R 3

32

Chapter 22
Qinside ba 4 = = 2 L

Divide both sides of this equation by L to obtain an expression for the charge per unit length of the cylinder: (b) Substitute for Qinside in equation (1) and simplify to obtain:

E R<a

R4 b 2 = = R3 2LR 0 40

bL

For R > a:

Qinside =

bL
2

a4

Substitute for Qinside in equation (1) and simplify to obtain:

E R >a

a4 ba 4 2 = = 2 RL 0 40 R

bL

57 The inner cylinder of Figure 22-42 is made of non-conducting material and has a volume charge distribution given by (R) = C/R, where C = 200 nC/m2. The outer cylinder is metallic, and both cylinders are infinitely long. (a) Find the charge per unit length (that is, the linear charge density) on the inner cylinder. (b) Calculate the electric field for all values of R. Picture the Problem We can integrate the density function over the radius of the inner cylinder to find the charge on it and then calculate the linear charge density from its definition. To find the electric field for all values of r we can construct a Gaussian surface in the shape of a cylinder of radius R and length L and apply Gausss law to each region of the cable to find the electric field as a function of the distance from its centerline.

(a) Letting the radius of the inner cylinder be a, find the charge Qinner on the inner cylinder:

Qinner = (R )dV =
0 a

C 2RLdR R 0

= 2CL dR = 2CLa
0

Relate this charge to the linear charge density: Substitute numerical values and evaluate :

Qinner 2CLa = = 2Ca L L

= 2 (200 nC/m )(0.0150 m )

= 18.8 nC/m

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions (b) Apply Gausss law to a cylindrical surface of radius r and length L that is concentric with the infinitely long nonconducting cylinder: Noting that, due to symmetry, E n = E R , solve for ER to obtain: Substitute to obtain, for R < 1.50 cm: Substitute numerical values and evaluate En(R < 1.50 cm):

33

0 0 where weve neglected the end areas because there is no flux through them.
S

En dA =

Qinside 2rLEn =

Qinside

ER =

Qinside 2RL 0 2CLR C = 2 0 LR 0

E R<1.50 cm =

E R<1.50 cm =

200 nC/m 2 8.854 10 12 C 2 /N m 2

= 22.6 kN/C Express Qinside for 1.50 cm < R < 4.50 cm: Substitute to obtain, for 1.50 cm < R < 4.50 cm:
E1.50 cm< R< 4.50 cm = 2CaL Ca = 2 0 RL 0 R Qinside = 2CLa

where R = 1.50 cm. Substitute numerical values and evaluate E1.50 cm< R<4.50 cm :

E1.50 cm< R<4.50 cm =

(200 nC/m )(0.0150 m) = (8.854 10 C /N m )r

2 12 2 2

339 N m/C R

Because the outer cylindrical shell is a conductor: For R > 6.50 cm, Qinside = 2CLR and:

E 4.50 cm<R<6.50 cm = 0
339 N m/C R

E R >6.50 cm =

Electric Charge and Field at Conductor Surfaces

63 A positive point charge of 2.5 C is at the center of a conducting spherical shell that has a net charge of zero, an inner radius equal to 60 cm, and an outer radius equal to 90 cm. (a) Find the charge densities on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell and the total charge on each surface. (b) Find the electric

34

Chapter 22

field everywhere. (c) Repeat Part (a) and Part (b) with a net charge of +3.5 C placed on the shell.
Picture the Problem Let the inner and outer radii of the uncharged spherical conducting shell be R1 and R2 and q represent the positive point charge at the center of the shell. The positive point charge at the center will induce a negative charge on the inner surface of the shell and, because the shell is uncharged, an equal positive charge will be induced on its outer surface. To solve Part (b), we can construct a Gaussian surface in the shape of a sphere of radius r with the same center as the shell and apply Gausss law to find the electric field as a function of the distance from this point. In Part (c) we can use a similar strategy with the additional charge placed on the shell.

(a) Express the charge density on the inner surface: Express the relationship between the positive point charge q and the charge induced on the inner surface qinner : Substitute for qinner and A to obtain:

inner =

qinner A

q + qinner = 0 qinner = q

inner =

q 4R12

Substitute numerical values and evaluate inner: Express the charge density on the outer surface: Because the spherical shell is uncharged: Substitute for qouter to obtain:

inner =

2.5 C = 0.55 C/m 2 2 4 (0.60 m )

outer =

qouter A

qouter + qinner = 0 qinner 2 4R2

outer =

Substitute numerical values and evaluate outer:

outer =

2.5 C = 0.25 C/m 2 2 4 (0.90 m )

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions (b) Apply Gausss law to a spherical surface of radius r that is concentric with the point charge: Noting that, due to symmetry, En = Er , solve for Er to obtain: For r < R1 = 60 cm, Qinside = q. Substitute in equation (1) to obtain:

35
Qinside

En dA =

Qinside 4 r 2 En =

Er =

Qinside 4 r 2 0 q kq = 2 2 4 r 0 r

(1)

Er <60 cm =

Substitute numerical values and evaluate Er <60 cm :

Er <60 cm

(8.988 10 =

N m 2 /C 2 (2.5 C ) = r2
Qinside = 0

(2.2 10

N m 2 /C

) r1

Because the spherical shell is a conductor, a charge q will be induced on its inner surface. Hence, for 60 cm < r < 90 cm: For r > 90 cm, the net charge inside the Gaussian surface is q and: (c) Because E = 0 in the conductor:

and E60 cm<r <90 cm = 0

kq = r2

Er >90 cm =

(2.3 10

N m 2 /C

) r1

qinner = 2.5 C

and

inner = 0.55 C/m 2 as before.

Express the relationship between the charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the spherical shell:
qouter + qinner = 3.5 C

and qouter = 3.5 C - qinner = 6.0 C

6.0 C = 0.59 C/m 2 2 4 (0.90 m )

outer is now given by:

outer =

For r < R1 = 60 cm, Qinside = q and Er <60 cm is as it was in (a):

Er <60 cm =

(2.3 10

N m 2 /C

) r1

36

Chapter 22
Qinside = 0

Because the spherical shell is a conductor, a charge q will be induced on its inner surface. Hence, for 60 cm < r < 90 cm:

and E60 cm<r <90 cm = 0

For r > 0.90 m, the net charge inside the Gaussian surface is 6.0 C and:
Er >90 cm = kq 1 1 = 8.988 109 N m 2 /C 2 (6.0 C ) 2 = 5.4 10 4 N m 2 /C 2 2 r r r

65 [SSM] A thin square conducting sheet that has 5.00-m-long edges has a net charge of 80.0 C. The square is in the x = 0 plane and is centered at the origin. (Assume the charge on each surface is uniformly distributed.) (a) Find the charge density on each side of the sheet and find the electric field on the x axis in the region |x| << 5.00 m. (b) A thin but infinite nonconducting sheet that has a uniform charge density of 2.00 C/m2 is now placed in the x = 2.50 m plane. Find the electric field on the x axis on each side of the square sheet in the region |x| << 2.50 m. Find the charge density on each surface of the square sheet. Picture the Problem (a) One half of the total charge is on each side of the square thin conducting sheet and the electric field inside the sheet is zero. The electric field intensity just outside the surface of a conductor is given by E = 0 .

Typical field points to the left and right of the square thin conducting sheet are shown in the following diagram.

y, m
2.50 m

r Eleft

r Eright

r E left

r Eright

x, m

0 left right thin square conducting sheet Q = 80.0 C

2.50 m
net

(b) We can use the fact that the net charge on the conducting sheet is the sum of the charges Qleft and Qright on its left and right surfaces to obtain an equation relating these charges. Because the resultant electric field is zero inside the sheet, we can obtain a second equation in Qleft and Qright that we can solve simultaneously with the first equation to find Qleft and Qright. The resultant electric field is the superposition of three fieldsthe field due to the charges on the infinite nonconducting sheet and the fields due to the charges on the surfaces of the thin square conducting sheet. The electric field intensity due to a uniformly charged

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions

37

nonconducting infinite sheet is given by E = 2 0 . Typical field points for each of the four regions of interest are shown in the following diagram.
= 2.00 C/m 2
Q net = 80.0 C r EQ
r E Qleft
r Einfinite
sheet

right

P III
r r Einfinite E Qleft
sheet

r E Qright

P I

r r 2.50 m E Qleft E Q right

P II

r Einfinite
sheet

PIV 0 III

r r Einfinite E Qleft
sheet

r E Qright

x, m

II

Qleft

Qright

IV

thin square conducting sheet infinite charged nonconducting sheet

Note: The vectors in this figure are drawn consistent with the charges Qleft and Qright both being positive. If either Qleft or Qright are negative then the solution will produce a negative value for either Qleft or Qright. (a) Because the square sheet is a conductor, half the charge on each surface is half the net charge on the sheet: Substitute numerical values and evaluate left and right : For |x| << 5.00 m, the electric field is given by the expression for the field just outside a conductor: Substitute numerical values and evaluate E x <<5.00 m :

left = right =

1 2

Qnet A

left = right =
0

1 2

(80.0 C) = (5.00 m)2

1.60

C
m2

E x <<5.00 m =

E x <<5.00 m =

1.60 C/m 2 8.854 1012 C 2 /N m 2

= 180.7 kN/C = 181 kN/C For x > 0, E x <<5.00 m is in the +x direction and for x < 0, E x <<5.00 m is in the x direction.

38

Chapter 22
r r r r E II = Einfinite + EQleft + EQright
sheet

(b) The resultant electric field in Region II is the sum of the fields due to the infinite nonconducting sheet and the charge on the surfaces of the thin square conducting sheet:

infinite
sheet

i left i right i 2 0 2 0 2 0

infinite left right = sheet i 2 0

Due to the presence of the infinite nonconducting sheet, the charges on the thin square conducting sheet are redistributed on the left and right surfaces. The net charge on the thin square conducting sheet is the sum of the charges on its left- and righthand surfaces: Writing this equation in terms of the surface charge densities yields:

Qleft + Qright = 80.0 C

where weve assumed that Qleft and Qright are both positive.

left + right =
=

Qleft Qright + A A Qleft + Qright (1)

A 80.0 C = (5.00 m )2

= 3.20 C/m 2 where A is the area of one side of the thin square conducting sheet. Because the electric field is zero inside the thin square conducting sheet:

infinite
sheet

2 0

left right =0 2 0 2 0

or 2.00 C/m 2 + left right = 0 (2) Solving equations (1) and (2) simultaneously yields:

left = 0.60 C/m 2

and

right = 2.60 C/m 2

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions

r Substitute numerical values and evaluate E II :
2.00 C 0.60 C 2.60 C r m 2 i = 67.8 kN i m2 m2 E II = 2 C C 2 8.854 10 12 2 Nm

39

The resultant electric field in Region IV is the sum of the fields due to the charge on the infinite nonconducting sheet and the charges on the two surfaces of the thin square conducting sheet:

r r r r E IV = Einfinite + EQleft + EQright

sheet

infinite
sheet

i + left i + right i 2 0 2 0 2 0

infinite + left + right = sheet i 2 0

r Substitute numerical values and evaluate E IV :

r E IV

2.00 C + 0.60 C + 2.60 C m 2 i = 294 kN i m2 m2 = C C2 2 8.854 10 12 2 Nm

r Substitute numerical values and evaluate E IV :

r E IV

2.00 C + 0.60 C + 2.60 C m2 m2 m 2 i = 294 kN i = 2 C 2 8.854 10 12 C 2 Nm

General Problems
67 A large, flat, nonconducting, non-uniformly charged surface lies in the x = 0 plane. At the origin, the surface charge density is +3.10 C/m2. A small distance away from the surface on the positive x axis, the x component of the electric field is 4.65 105 N/C. What is Ex a small distance away from the surface on the negative x axis?

40

Chapter 22

Picture the Problem The electric field just to the right of the large, flat, nonconducting, nonuniformly charged surface is 2 0 and the electric field just to the left of the surface is 2 0 . We can express the electric field on both

sides of the surface in terms of E0, the electric field in the region in the absence of the charged surface, and then eliminate E0 from these equations to obtain an expression for Ex a small distance away from the surface on the negative x axis. The electric field on the positive x axis is given by: The electric field on the negative x axis is given by: Substituting for E0 in the expression for E x < 0 and simplifying gives:
E x >0 = E0 +

E0 = E x >0 20 20 20

E x<0 = E0

Ex <0 = Ex >0

2 0 2 0 = Ex >0 0

Substitute numerical values and evaluate E x,neg :

E x ,neg = 4.65 105 N/C

3.10 C/m 2 = 115 kN/C 8.854 10 12 C 2 /N m 2

69 A thin, non-conducting, uniformly charged spherical shell of radius R (Figure 22-44a) has a total positive charge of Q. A small circular plug is removed from the surface. (a) What is the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the center of the hole? (b) The plug is now put back in the hole (Figure 22-44b). Using the result of Part (a), find the electric force acting on the plug. (c) Using the magnitude of the force, calculate the electrostatic pressure (force/unit area) that tends to expand the sphere. Picture the Problem If the patch is small enough, the field at the center of the patch comes from two contributions. We can view the field in the hole as the sum of the field from a uniform spherical shell of charge Q plus the field due to a small patch with surface charge density equal but opposite to that of the patch cut out.

(a) Express the magnitude of the electric field at the center of the hole: Apply Gausss law to a spherical gaussian surface just outside the given sphere:

E = Espherical + E hole
shell

Espherical 4r 2 =
shell

Qenclosed

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions Solve for Espherical to obtain:
shell

41

E spherical =
shell

Q 4 0 r 2

The electric field due to the small hole (small enough so that we can treat it as a plane surface) is: Substitute for Espherical and Ehole and
shell

Ehole =

2 0

E= = =

Q 4 0 r Q 4 0 r Q
2 2

simplify to obtain:

20 Q 2 0 4 r 2

8 0 r 2

radially outward

(b) Express the force on the patch:

F = qE where q is the charge on the patch.

Assuming that the patch has radius a, express the proportion between its charge and that of the spherical shell: Substitute for q and E in the expression for F to obtain:

a2 q Q Q or q = = 4r 2 a 2 4 r 2

a2 Q F = 2 Q 4r 8 r 2 0 =
Q 2a 2 radially outward 32 0 r 4

(c) The pressure is the force exerted on the patch divided by the area of the patch:

Q 2a 2 32 0 r 4 Q2 = P= a 2 32 2 0 r 4

71 Two identical square parallel metal plates each have an area of 500 cm2. They are separated by 1.50 cm. They are both initially uncharged. Now a charge of +1.50 nC is transferred from the plate on the left to the plate on the right and the charges then establish electrostatic equilibrium. (Neglect edge effects.) (a) What is the electric field between the plates at a distance of 0.25 cm from the plate on the right? (b) What is the electric field between the plates a distance of 1.00 cm from the plate on the left? (c) What is the electric field just to the left of the plate on the left? (d) What is the electric field just to the right of the plate to the right?

42

Chapter 22

Picture the Problem The transfer of charge from the plate on the left to the plate on the right leaves the plates with equal but opposite charges. The symbols for the four surface charge densities are shown in the figure. The x component of the electric field due to the charge on surface 1L is 1L (2 0 ) at points to the left of surface 1L and is + 1L (2 0 ) at points to the right of surface 1L, where the +x direction is to the right. Similar expressions describe the electric fields due to the other three surface charges. We can use superposition of electric fields to find the electric field in each of the three regions.

I 1

II 2

III

x
2R

1L

1R

2L

Define 1 and 2 so that:

1 = 1L + 1R
and

2 = 2L + 2R
E x , II =

(a) and (b) In the region between the plates (region II):

1L 1R 2L 2R + 20 20 20 20 2 = 0+ 1 2 0 = 1 0 2 0 2 0

Let 2 = 1 = . Then: Substituting for 1 2 and using the definition of yields:

1 2 = = 2
E x , II = 2

Substitute numerical values and evaluate E x , II :

E x , II = 1.50 nC = 339 kN/C toward the left C2 -6 2 500 10 m N m2

8.854 10 12

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions (c) The electric field strength just to the left of the plate on the left (region I) is given by: E x, I =

43

1L 1R 2L 2R 20 20 20 20 = 0 1 2 0 20 20 = = 0 2 0 20 1L 1R 2L 2R + + + 20 20 20 20 = 0+ 1 + 2 0 20 20 = + = 0 20 20

(d) The electric field strength just to the right of the plate on the right (region III) is given by:

E x , III =

Remarks: If we start with the fact that free charges are only found on the surfaces of the plates facing each other, then a much simpler solution is possible. Any plane of charge produces a field 2 0 perpendicular to the plane. The field in region III directed everywhere away from the plane and the field of the left plane is everywhere directed toward it. 73 A quantum-mechanical treatment of the hydrogen atom shows that the electron in the atom can be treated as a smeared-out distribution of negative charge of the form (r) = 0e2r/a. Here r represents the distance from the center of the nucleus and a represents the first Bohr radius which has a numerical value of 0.0529 nm. Recall that the nucleus of a hydrogen atom consists of just one proton and treat this proton as a positive point charge. (a) Calculate 0, using the fact that the atom is neutral. (b) Calculate the electric field at any distance r from the nucleus. Picture the Problem Because the atom is uncharged, we know that the integral of the electrons charge distribution over all of space must equal its charge qe. Evaluation of this integral will lead to an expression for 0. In (b) we can express the resultant electric field at any point as the sum of the electric fields due to the proton and the electron cloud.

(a) Because the atom is uncharged, the integral of the electrons charge distribution over all of space must equal its charge e:

e = (r )dV = (r )4 r 2 dr
0 0

44

Chapter 22
e = 0 e 2 r a 4 r 2 dr
0

Substitute for (r) and simplify to obtain:

= 4 0 r 2 e 2 r a dr
0

Use integral tables or integration by parts to obtain:

2 2 r a r e dr = 0

a3 4

Substitute for r 2 e 2 r a dr to obtain:

0

a3 e = 4 0 = a 3 0 4

Solving for 0 yields:

0 =

e a3

(b) The field will be the sum of the field due to the proton and that of the electron charge cloud: Express the field due to the electron cloud:

E = Ep + Ecloud

kQ(r ) r2 where Q(r) is the net negative charge enclosed a distance r from the proton. Ecloud (r ) = E (r ) = ke kQ(r ) + 2 r2 r
r

Substitute for Ep and Ecloud to obtain: Q(r) is given by:

(1)

Q (r ) = 4r ' 2 (r ' )dr '

0

= 4 r ' 2 0 e 2 r ' a dr '

0

From Part (a), 0 =

e : a3

e Q (r ) = 4 3 r ' 2 e 2 r ' a dr ' a 0 4e = 3 r ' 2 e 2 r ' a dr ' a 0

r

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions From a table of integrals:

45

x e
0

2 2 x a

dx = 1 e 2 r a a e 2 r a 1 a 2 2ar 2r 2 4 = e
1 4 2 r a 3

[(

2 r a r r2 a e 1 2 2 2 a a

=
r

a3 4

r r 2 1 e 2 r a 2e 2 r a + 2 a a

Substituting for r '2 e 2 r ' a dr ' in the expression for Q(r ) and simplifying yields:
0

Q(r ) =

r r2 e (1 e 2r a ) 2e 2r a a + a 2 4

Substitute for Q(r ) in equation (1) and simplify to obtain:

E (r ) =
=

ke ke r 2 4r 2

r r 2 1 e 2 r a 2e 2 r a + 2 a a

2 ke 1 1 1 e 2 r a 2e 2 r a r + r 2 a a2 r 4

79 A uniformly charged, infinitely long line of negative charge has a linear charge density of and is located on the z axis. A small positively charged particle that has a mass m and a charge q is in a circular orbit of radius R in the xy plane centered on the line of charge. (a) Derive an expression for the speed of the particle. (b) Obtain an expression for the period of the particles orbit. Picture the Problem (a) We can apply Newtons second law to the particle to express its speed as a function of its mass m, charge q, and the radius of its path R, and the strength of the electric field due to the infinite line charge E. (b) The period of the particles motion is the ratio of the circumference of the circle in which it travels divided by its orbital speed.
z

R
m, q

46

Chapter 22

(a) Apply Newtons second law to the particle to obtain:

v2 R where the inward direction is positive.

Fradial = qE = m
qRE m

Solving for v yields:

v=

The strength of the electric field at a distance R from the infinite line charge is given by: Substitute for E and simplify to obtain: (b) The speed of the particle is equal to the circumference of its orbit divided by its period: Substitute for v and simplify to obtain:

E=

2k R

v=

2kq m

v=

2R 2R T = T v

T = R

2m kq

81 The charges Q and q of Problem 80 are +5.00 C and 5.00 C, respectively, and the radius of the ring is 8.00 cm. When the particle is given a small displacement in the x direction, it oscillates about its equilibrium position at a frequency of 3.34 Hz. (a) What is the particles mass? (b) What is the frequency if the radius of the ring is doubled to 16.0 cm and all other parameters remain unchanged? Picture the Problem Starting with the equation for the electric field on the axis of a ring charge, we can factor the denominator of the expression to show that, for x << a, Ex is proportional to x. We can use Fx = qEx to express the force acting on the particle and apply Newtons second law to show that, for small displacements from equilibrium, the particle will execute simple harmonic motion. Finally, we can find the angular frequency of the motion from the differential equation and use this expression to find the frequency of the motion when the radius of the ring is doubled and all other parameters remain unchanged.

(a) Express the electric field on the axis of the ring of charge:

Ex =

(x

kQx
2

+ a2

32

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions Factor a2 from the denominator of Ex to obtain:

47

Ex =

kQx 2 x 2 a 1 + 2 a kQx
32 32

x2 a 3 1 + 2 a provided x << a. Express the force acting on the particle as a function of its charge and the electric field: Because the negatively charged particle experiences a linear restoring force, we know that its motion will be simple harmonic. Apply Newtons second law to the negatively charged particle to obtain:
The angular frequency of the simple harmonic motion of the particle is given by: Solving for m yields:

kQ x a3

Fx = qE x =

kqQ x a3

d 2x kqQ = 3 x 2 dt a

or d 2 x kqQ + x=0 dt 2 ma 3 the differential equation of simple harmonic motion.

kqQ ma 3

(1)

m=

kqQ kqQ = 2 3 a 4 2 f 2 a 3

Substitute numerical values and evaluate m:

2 9 Nm 8.988 10 ( 5.00 C ) (5.00 C ) C2 m= = 0.997 kg 2 3 2 4 3.34 s 1 (8.00 cm )

(b) Express the angular frequency of the motion if the radius of the ring is doubled:

' =

kqQ 3 m(2a )

(2)

48

Chapter 22
kqQ 3 m(2a ) kqQ ma 3

Divide equation (2) by equation (1) to obtain:

' 2f' = = 2f

1 8

Solve for f to obtain:

f' =

3.34 Hz f = = 1.18 Hz 8 8

87 Consider a simple but surprisingly accurate model for the hydrogen molecule: two positive point charges, each having charge +e, are placed inside a uniformly charged sphere of radius R, which has a charge equal to 2e. The two point charges are placed symmetrically, equidistant from the center of the sphere (Figure 22-48). Find the distance from the center, a, where the net force on either point charge is zero. Picture the Problem We can find the distance from the center where the net force on either charge is zero by setting the sum of the forces acting on either point charge equal to zero. Each point charge experiences two forces; one a Coulomb force of repulsion due to the other point charge, and the second due to that fraction of the spheres charge that is between the point charge and the center of the sphere that creates an electric field at the location of the point charge.

Apply

F = 0 to either of the

FCoulomb Ffield = 0

(1)

point charges: Express the Coulomb force on the proton: The force exerted by the field E is: Apply Gausss law to a spherical surface of radius a centered at the origin: Relate the charge density of the electron sphere to Qenclosed : Substitute for Qenclosed : Solve for E to obtain:

FCoulomb =
Ffield = eE

ke 2 ke 2 = 2 (2a )2 4a

E 4 a 2 =

Qenclosed

2ea 3 Q 2e = 4enclosed Qenclosed = 3 3 3 4 R 3 a 3 R

2ea3 E 4a = 0 R 3
2

E=

ea 2 0 R 3

Ffield =

e2a
2 0 R 3

The Electric Field 2: Continuous Charge Distributions Substitute for FCoulomb and Ffield in equation (1):

49

ke2 e2a =0 4a 2 2 0 R 3 or ke 2 2ke 2 a 1 = 0a = 3 R = 2 3 4a R 8

1 2