A little help with electric potential.

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating electric potential using the integral of the electric field, specifically in a scenario involving multiple regions defined by different charge distributions. The original poster presents a potential value that they believe to be incorrect according to their homework service.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to consider different expressions for the electric field in various regions and question whether these were accounted for in the integration process. There is a request for clarification on how to apply these different expressions in the context of the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the implications of the electric field's behavior in different regions. Some guidance has been offered regarding the need to consider multiple expressions for the electric field, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach yet.

Contextual Notes

There is an indication that the problem involves three distinct regions affecting the electric field, which may not have been fully integrated into the original calculations. The original poster's approach may be limited by assumptions made about the charge distributions.

JamesL
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Here is the problem:

http://uploads.offtopic.com/files/physprob15.bmp

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The way we were taught in class so far to find the potential was using the integral of E dot dS. Which works itself down to (kq/r) evaluated from the r you are looking for to infinity.

In which case, V would equal 2.15059 v. But this answer is incorrect according to my homework service.

Any ideas?
 
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You should have three different expressions for the electric field for the three regions. Did you account for that in your integration to infinity?
 
Tide said:
You should have three different expressions for the electric field for the three regions. Did you account for that in your integration to infinity?

no, i don't think so. could you explain more?
 
In the region [itex]1.4 < r < 4.2[/itex] the electric field is determind only by the charge on the inner sphere. In [itex]4.2 < r < 7[/itex] the electric field is determined by both the charge on the inner sphere AND the inner surface of the shell. And outside the configuration [itex]r > 7[/itex] the electric field is due to the charge on the inner sphere and both the inner and outer surfaces of the shell.
 

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