Charge density and electric field

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between charge density, electric field, and their respective units. It establishes that charge density (σ) divided by the permittivity of free space (ε₀) is equivalent to the electric field (E), represented as E = σ/ε₀. The conversation highlights the importance of Coulomb's constant (k) in understanding the units of electric field (N/C) and emphasizes that unit cancellation alone cannot establish the relationship between force (F), charge (q), and electric field. The necessity of calculus for relating voltage (V) and electric field is also noted.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric field concepts and formulas
  • Familiarity with charge density (σ) and its units (C/m²)
  • Knowledge of Coulomb's constant (k) and its significance in electrostatics
  • Basic calculus for relating voltage and electric field
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the electric field from charge density using ε₀
  • Learn about Coulomb's law and its application in calculating forces between point charges
  • Explore the relationship between electric field and potential difference (V) using calculus
  • Investigate different unit systems in electromagnetism and their implications on charge and field calculations
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, electrical engineering, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of electrostatics and the relationships between charge density, electric fields, and forces.

JFS321
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All,

I am wanting to see why charge density divided by e nought is equal to F/q and V/d. Unit cancellation makes it easy to equate F/q = V/d, but why is charge density alone enough to be equal to the electric field? I feel like something is missing here but I can't reconcile it nicely in my head or on paper. To be more clear, I don't understand how we get units of N/C from charge density which is C / m2. Hopefully this makes sense and someone can point me in the right direction.
 
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Charge density is not enough to have an electric field. You also need the distance from your charge.
For point charges, electric field is E = k \frac{Q} {d^2}
where k is Coulomb's constant, Q is charge, and d is distance.

If you have another charge q at distance d, the force between charges will be F = q*E, that's where E = F/q comes from.
Unit cancellation isn't enough to relate quantities though. V/d only works for point charges. To actually relate V and E, in general, you need to use calculus.N/C is not a unit for charge density, that is a unit for an electric field. Either way, the units don't make sense to you because you are forgetting Coulomb's constant (the k in the formula above), which has units of Nm^2/(C^2).
Depending on what unit system you use, you can express electric field with or without this constant, but it changes you units for charge.
 
Last edited:
Ok, I follow the units here. What am I missing to show that sigma / e nought is equivalent to F / q...?
electric-field-capacitor.PNG
 
## \epsilon_0 ##has his own units. Did you consider this?
It's not charge density alone.
 

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