# Continuous Distribution of Charges Problem

1. Feb 24, 2017

### BrainMan

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Charge Q is uniformly distributed along a thin, flexible rod of length L. The rod is then bent into the semicircle shown in the figure (Figure 1) .

Find an expression for the electric field E⃗ at the center of the semicircle.
Hint: A small piece of arc length Δs spans a small angle Δθ=Δs /R, where R is the radius.
Express your answer in terms of the variables Q, L, unit vectors i^, j^, and appropriate constants.

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

I drew a picture and established a coordinate system. Then I drew the vector of the electric fields at two point charges at point P. Then I saw that the y components of the field will cancel because of the symmetry. I then wrote what the field should be in terms of x. I'm not sure what to do now or how to get to a point where I could integrate.

2. Feb 24, 2017

### blue_leaf77

You mean $x$ as a coordinate? That's not necessary since you are asked to calculate the field on a fixed coordinate which is the center of the ring.
After defining $\lambda$ to be the charge linear density $Q/L = dQ/ds$ you can integrate the last equation in your work.

3. Feb 24, 2017

### BrainMan

OK I substituted the linear charge density and integrated from 0 to L. Somethings still wrong though.

4. Feb 24, 2017

### BrainMan

5. Feb 24, 2017

### BrainMan

Here's what I did:

E = ∫dE = ∫(K*dQ*cosθ)/r^2 = ∫(K*λ*dS*cosθ)/r^2) = (Kλ)/r^2 ∫cos(S/r)ds = (Kλ/r) ∫ sin(S/r) ] 0 to L = (Kλ/r)[sin(L/r)-1]

6. Feb 24, 2017

### blue_leaf77

Leave $\theta$ as it is and use $ds = rd\theta$ and integrate with the angle. So that it will be
$$\int \frac{k\lambda}{r^2} \cos\theta \ r\ d\theta$$
Upon doing the integration, you may just integrate the upper/lower half of the semicircle owing to the symmetry.

7. Feb 25, 2017

### BrainMan

So I did (Kλ/r) ∫ cosθ dθ and got (Kλ/r) sinθ ] -pi/2 -> pi/2

So my final answer is 2Kλ/r = (2KQ) / (RL)

But my homework keeps saying "The correct answer does not depend on: KQ, RL."

8. Feb 25, 2017

### kuruman

Q and L are the given quantities, other than the appropriate constants. R is not given. Can you express R in terms of L?

9. Feb 25, 2017

### BrainMan

So I changed my answer to 2KQπ/L^2 and it worked. Thanks!