Electric field between two charged rods

In summary, the conversation discusses the calculation of electric field strengths at different distances from two uniformly charged glass rods placed 4.0 cm apart. The formula used is [1/(4??0)] * {|Q| / [r* (r2+(0.5L)2)0.5]}, where L is the length of the rod, r is the distance from the rod, and Q is the charge. The attempt at a solution involved plugging in values and doubling the result, but this was incorrect due to the fact that the fields due to each rod are in opposite directions. The suggestion is made to consult the course material for more information.
  • #1
aliaze1
174
1

Homework Statement



Two 10-cm-long thin glass rods uniformly charged to are placed side by side, 4.0 cm apart. What are the electric field strengths at distances 1.0 cm, 2.0 cm, and 3.0 cm to the right of the rod on the left, along the line connecting the midpoints of the two rods?

Homework Equations



[1/(4??0)] * {|Q| / [r* (r2+(0.5L)2)0.5]}
the power "0.5" is the square root; √

The Attempt at a Solution



Calculating the charge @ 2cm seemed the easiest, so here is what I did:

L=0.1m
r=0.02m
Q=1*10-8
1/(4??0) = 9*109

plugging these numbers in, I get 83562.90218, and since there are two rods, and this is equidistant from both, I added Erod#1 + Erod#2, which is the same as doubling the value, giving 167125.8044; incorrect
 
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  • #2
The two fields due to each rod are in opposite directions.
 
  • #3
learningphysics said:
The two fields due to each rod are in opposite directions.

so their signs are opposite...thanks!
 
  • #4
This question is from section 27.3, Question 9 from the book "Physics for scientists and engineers second edition. A strategic approach" by Randall D. Knight, which is probably the most standard undergraduate physics text available and extremely good, and it even has answers for all the odd numbered questions.

I suggest reading your course material.
 

What is an electric field?

An electric field is a physical quantity that describes the force exerted on a charged particle by other charged particles.

How is the electric field between two charged rods calculated?

The electric field between two charged rods is calculated using Coulomb's Law, which states that the force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

What factors affect the strength of the electric field between two charged rods?

The strength of the electric field between two charged rods is affected by the magnitude of the charges on the rods, the distance between them, and the dielectric constant of the medium between them.

What is the direction of the electric field between two charged rods?

The direction of the electric field between two charged rods is always from the positive rod to the negative rod. This is because positive charges repel each other, and negative charges attract each other.

How can the electric field between two charged rods be modified?

The electric field between two charged rods can be modified by changing the distance between the rods, changing the amount of charge on the rods, or by changing the medium between the rods. Additionally, the presence of other charged objects in the vicinity can also affect the electric field.

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