Electricity & Magnetism: Help With 2 Homework Problems

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on solving two specific problems in Electricity and Magnetism related to electric fields. The first problem involves determining the electric field at a point d to the right of a hollow cylinder by treating it as a collection of rings and integrating the results from a single ring. The second problem addresses a uniformly charged disk of radius R and charge Q, requiring the demonstration that the electric field at large distances approaches that of a point charge. Both problems utilize calculus for integration and limit evaluation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric fields and their calculations
  • Familiarity with calculus, specifically integration
  • Knowledge of the concept of point charges in electrostatics
  • Experience with electric field equations for rings and disks
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the integration techniques for electric fields from continuous charge distributions
  • Learn about the electric field equations for a charged ring and disk
  • Explore the concept of limits in calculus, particularly in the context of electric fields
  • Review the principles of superposition in electrostatics
USEFUL FOR

Students in introductory Electricity and Magnetism courses, educators teaching electrostatics, and anyone looking to strengthen their understanding of electric field calculations involving continuous charge distributions.

dink
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
I just recently began the Electricity and Magnetism course. Having said that I'm requesting help with a general plan of attack for two homework problems, that is, conceptually understanding how to use the math on these problems.

First problems states there is a hollow cylinder of length h and radius R, determine the electric field at point d to the right of the cylinder (this is the axis through the center). It also states to think of the cylinder as a collection of rings and gives me nearly the same problem solved for a single ring. My question is how would I adapt the results of the ring?

My second problem is a uniformly charged disk of radius R and charge Q. This also has the electric field calculated along the axis through the disk. The problem asks show that the electric field at distances x that are large compared with R approaches that of a point charge. How would I go about grappling this problem?

What I'm essentially asking is a gameplan for these problems like, do I integrate and if so along what axis. Thanks for any help you can give me.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
dink said:
First problems states there is a hollow cylinder of length h and radius R, determine the electric field at point d to the right of the cylinder (this is the axis through the center). It also states to think of the cylinder as a collection of rings and gives me nearly the same problem solved for a single ring. My question is how would I adapt the results of the ring?
This is a basic calculus problem. You know what the electric field is at a point d from the center of the ring, so all you need to do is sum for the collection of rings (i.e. integrate).

My second problem is a uniformly charged disk of radius R and charge Q. This also has the electric field calculated along the axis through the disk. The problem asks show that the electric field at distances x that are large compared with R approaches that of a point charge. How would I go about grappling this problem?
Easy. Find the equation for the electric field at a distance r from the center of the disk (another calculus problem). Then, take the limit as r approaches infinity and compare the result with the electric field equation for a point charge.

Hope that helps.
 
Thanks, I think I have something to turn in at the least now. :p
 

Similar threads

Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
Replies
23
Views
6K
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K