Finding Electric Field of a Uniformly Charged Sphere & Plane

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the electric field of a uniformly charged sphere adjacent to a uniformly charged infinite plane. The charge densities are related by the equation \(\sigma_0=\frac{\rho_0R}{2}\). The electric field inside the sphere is given by \(\vec{E_s}=\frac{\rho_0R}{3\epsilon_0}\), while the electric field from the infinite plane is \(\vec{E_p}=\frac{\sigma_0}{2\epsilon_0}=\frac{\rho_0R}{4\epsilon_0}\). The combined electric field is calculated as \(\vec{E_s}+\vec{E_p}=\frac{7\rho_0R}{12\epsilon_0}\), but the user is uncertain about the correctness of their calculations, particularly regarding the direction and uniformity of the electric field inside the sphere.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electrostatics and electric fields
  • Familiarity with Gaussian surfaces and their applications
  • Knowledge of vector components and their representation in Cartesian coordinates
  • Concept of charge density and its implications in electric field calculations
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the derivation of electric fields from charged objects using Gauss's Law
  • Study the behavior of electric fields inside non-uniform charge distributions
  • Learn about vector addition of electric fields and their directional components
  • Investigate the implications of charge density relationships in electrostatics
USEFUL FOR

Students studying electrostatics, physics educators, and anyone interested in advanced electric field calculations involving charged spheres and planes.

matpo39
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ok i was flying through the homework no prob. then i hit this problem and i got an answer but i don't think its right.

A uniformly charged sphere of radius R and volume charge density [tex]\rho_0[/tex] is adjacent to a uniformly charged infinite plane of surface charge density [tex]\sigma_0[/tex]. the charge densities are related by
[tex]\sigma_0=\frac{\rho_0R}{2}[/tex]
the center of the sphere is a distance d from the plane. Find two points, one inside the sphere and one outside the sphere where the electric field is oriented away from the plane at a 45 degree angle with respect to the z axis.[note these points are not on the axis] (in the figure the infinite plane lies in the xy plane )

well i started this off by finding the electric field inside the sphere

[tex]\vec{E_s}=\frac{\rho_0R}{3\epsilon_0}[/tex]

i then found the charge of the infinite plane via the pill box gaussian surface and came up with
[tex]\vec{E_p}=\frac{\sigma_0}{2\epsioln_0}=\frac{\rho_0R}{4\epsilon_0}[/tex]

[tex]\vec{E_s}+\vec{E_p}=\frac{7\rho_0R}{12\epsilon_0}[/tex]

and breaking to components i got
[tex]\frac{7\rho_0R}{12\epsilon_0}(cos45+sin45)[/tex]

and by a similar approch i got
[tex][\frac{\rho_0R}{\epsilon_0}(\frac{R^2}{3r^2}+\frac{1}{4})](cos45+sin45)[/tex]

like i said i don't think this is right, so if some one could help me out a bit that would be great

thanks
 
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Mmmh. There's a problem here: you write [itex]\vec{E}= \mbox{a scalar}[/itex]. What are the directions of the E_P and E_S vectors? Write them in cartesian coordinate for a coordinate system centered on the sphere, and find the condition on E_p + E_s to be at 45°.

Oh, and your field equations look wrong. The field inside the sphere is not uniform.
 
Last edited:

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