Calculate the electric field in the middle of half sphere

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the electric field at the center of a half sphere with radius R. Participants are exploring the implications of using different coordinate systems and the nature of the charge distribution, specifically whether it is a solid half-sphere or a half-spherical shell.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the integration of charge elements, with one attempting to use spherical coordinates and another suggesting the use of rings instead of shells. Questions arise about the nature of the charge distribution and the appropriate coordinate system to use.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants sharing their calculations and questioning each other's approaches. There is no explicit consensus on the correct method or outcome, but various lines of reasoning are being explored, including the use of Gauss's law and the need for integration due to the lack of symmetry.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the implications of whether the charge distribution is a solid hemisphere or a half-spherical shell, which affects the calculations. There is also a mention of the need to select the correct component of the electric field vector.

en.yokhai
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hey guys

i'm new here...i got here with a question...

i want to calculate the electric field in the middle of half sphere with raduse R ,
so..i made a rings out of the sphere,ds,which in fact is (2PI*R^2)sin(teta)d(teta), and tried to integrate from 0 to PI/2.

i did get something...i'd like to know if I'm right or not...

thanks:)
 
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I'd like to know what you got...
 
\sigma\2\epsilon

sigma dividd by 2 epsilon
 
en.yokhai said:
\sigma\2\epsilon

sigma dividd by 2 epsilon

well that's got to be wrong.. The electric field at any point is dependent on the radius vector... You equation has no r in it... And why go for spherical co ordinates if rectangular co ordinates make it more easier...

The analogy which you have shown here is perfect... But remember that you have to take shells and not rings... And then apply k(charge on the infinitesimal shell) divided by x square... where x is the radius of the shell
 
I get something else... (not \sigma/2\epsilon_0)

Try explaining how you did it.

Also, FedEx made me think of something: is this a solid half-sphere or a half-spherical shell? I'd assumed the latter because \sigma is usually surface charge density.
 
Are you talking about a spherical shell or a solid hemisphere?
 
i'm talking about a shell
 
You forgot to select the correct component. In what direction does the E-field point in the center?
 
well i finally come to the conclusion that spherical coordinates would remain simple... And taking rings would be much better

but the rings would be like

dq = (sigma)(2pi r sintheta)(r dtheta)

And now apply the formula of the electric field of a ring
 
  • #10
ahhh, yes. the infamous half sphere. you can't quite use gauss's law due to the lack of familiar symmetry, and it seems like you must integrate.

tell me about the source charge.
 

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