Charge density and electric field

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between charge density, electric field, and their respective units. Participants explore the mathematical connections and physical principles underlying these concepts, including the role of distance and constants in the equations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how charge density divided by ε₀ relates to electric field strength, expressing confusion over unit equivalence.
  • Another participant argues that charge density alone is insufficient to determine electric field, emphasizing the necessity of distance from the charge.
  • A participant mentions the formula for electric field due to point charges and the relationship between force and electric field, suggesting that unit cancellation alone does not establish the equivalence of the quantities discussed.
  • Concerns are raised about the role of Coulomb's constant in the equations, with a participant noting that it affects the units and relationships between charge density and electric field.
  • Another participant highlights that ε₀ has its own units, indicating that charge density is not the sole factor in determining electric field strength.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; multiple competing views remain regarding the relationship between charge density and electric field, and the necessary conditions for establishing this relationship.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the role of constants and the implications of different unit systems on the relationships discussed. There are unresolved questions about the assumptions underlying the equivalences presented.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to students and professionals in physics and engineering, particularly those exploring electrostatics and the mathematical relationships between charge density and electric fields.

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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