Calculating Electric Field at Point P above Infinite Sheet

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The electric field at point P, located 29.9 cm above an infinite sheet of charge with a charge distribution of 2.29 C/m² and a hole of radius 4.49 cm, can be calculated using the equations Edisk = (-σ/2ε)[1-(z/sqrt(z² + r²))] and Esheet = +σ/2ε. The calculated electric field for the disk is 3.64e10 N/C, while for the sheet it is 1.30e11 N/C. To find the net electric field, one must subtract the disk's electric field from the sheet's, as they have opposite signs. The final result should yield a value smaller than that of the sheet alone due to the hole's effect.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric fields and charge distributions
  • Familiarity with the equations for electric fields from sheets and disks
  • Basic knowledge of calculus for evaluating limits
  • Experience with computational tools like WolframAlpha or Matlab
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of electric fields from infinite sheets and disks
  • Learn how to apply the principle of superposition in electrostatics
  • Explore the use of WolframAlpha for verifying complex calculations
  • Investigate the effects of varying charge densities on electric fields
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in electrostatics and electric field calculations.

kopinator
Messages
41
Reaction score
1
What is the electric field at a point P, a distance h = 29.9 cm above an infinite sheet of charge, with a charge distribution of 2.29 C/m^2 and a hole of radius r = 4.49 cm with P directly above the center of the hole, as shown in the figure?

Equations used:
Edisk= (-σ/2ε)[1-(z/sqrt(z^2 + r^2))]
Esheet= +σ/2ε
Enet= ƩE

I converted all the cm into m and plugged the numbers in. I got 3.64e10 N/C for the disk and 1.30e11 N/C for the sheet. I added the two together but my answer was wrong so i tried subtracting and still didn't get the right answer. I thought adding them would've been correct. Am I missing something?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
kopinator said:
What is the electric field at a point P, a distance h = 29.9 cm above an infinite sheet of charge, with a charge distribution of 2.29 C/m^2 and a hole of radius r = 4.49 cm with P directly above the center of the hole, as shown in the figure?

Equations used:
Edisk= (-σ/2ε)[1-(z/sqrt(z^2 + r^2))]
Esheet= +σ/2ε
Enet= ƩE

I converted all the cm into m and plugged the numbers in. I got 3.64e10 N/C for the disk and 1.30e11 N/C for the sheet. I added the two together but my answer was wrong so i tried subtracting and still didn't get the right answer. I thought adding them would've been correct. Am I missing something?

Yes, adding your expressions together is correct. You are essentially considering the E field at the point P due to the sheet with surface charge density +σ and subtracting the E field due to the imaginary disk of negative surface charge density -σ.

Alternatively, just subtract the E field due to a disk from the E field due to the plane.
In your end expression, take the limit z>>R, and see if your result makes sense.
 
Disk and sheet should have opposite signs (as removing stuff from a sheet reduces the electric field), so your formulas look right and one of your resulting values should have a minus sign. Add both, and you get a value smaller than for the sheet alone.

Did you check your values with WolframAlpha, Matlab or something similar?
 

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
3K
  • · Replies 68 ·
3
Replies
68
Views
8K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
11
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
4K