Solving for Electric Field with Gauss' Law

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the electric field using Gauss' law in differential form, specifically for a charge density defined as ρ = ρ₀r³ within certain radial bounds in spherical and cylindrical coordinates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss applying Gauss' law to both spherical and cylindrical geometries, questioning the necessity of using the displacement field D. There are attempts to clarify the integration of charge density over specified volumes and the implications of the radial coordinate on the enclosed charge.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively exploring different approaches to apply Gauss' law, with some providing examples and others questioning the steps taken. There is no explicit consensus, but guidance has been offered regarding the application of Gauss' law in different coordinate systems.

Contextual Notes

Constraints include the specific charge density provided and the requirement to consider different regions defined by the radial distance r. Participants are navigating the implications of these constraints on their calculations.

robert25pl
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I have to find the electric field everywhere using Gauss’ law in differential form. Charge density is [tex]\rho = \rho_{0}r^{3}[/tex] for a<r<b and 0 otherwise in spherical symmetry and then in cylindrical coordinates

[tex]\nabla \cdot D=\rho[/tex]
I have look for D and then just get E = D/epsilon. D is where I need help. Thanks
 
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Well, just apply Gauss' law on a sphere and on a cilinder. this should not be that difficult. You don't need this D. You will only need to be careful when the radial coordinate r is inside the sphere or cilinder. However, you have been given a charge density, so that is no problem.

What have you done so far ?

marlon

Just as an example : Suppose you have a sphere of radius a in which there is an uniform chargedensity. The total charge Q is then equal to [tex]\frac{4 \pi a^3}{3} \rho[/tex] Then Gauss's law says : [tex]E 4 \pi r^2 = \epsilon_0 Q[/tex]

This yields the electric field at distance r from the center of the sphere. Keep in mind that r must be BIGGER then a in this case
 
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So for [tex]0\leq r\leq a[/tex] Qencl=0

for [tex]a < r \leq b[/tex]

Qencl = [tex]\int_{a}^{r} \rho dv[/tex]


for r>b
Qencl = [tex]\int_{a}^{b} \rho dv[/tex]
and I just have to solve that,
Is this ok?

so for cylindrical I have to used 2pi*r*L
 
Last edited:
It's [tex]E 4 \pi r^2 =~electric~flux~=~EA= \frac{q}{\epsilon_0}[/tex]


I'm sure you can take it from here
 
To get E I just have to solve Q and substitute to the equation.
But isn't D = epsilon*E and I can get E from that
 
Last edited:

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