Damn units and surface charge density.

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the surface charge density from the force experienced by an electron near a charged sheet. The initial calculation used the formula F = qe to find the electric field (E), which was then applied to the equation E = (surface charge density)/2epsilon_0. The result of 2.32e-42 C/m^2 was deemed incorrect, prompting inquiries about potential calculation errors. Participants suggest that the exponent in the final answer may be wrong and request intermediate results for clarity. The conversation emphasizes the importance of careful calculations in physics problems.
frasifrasi
Messages
276
Reaction score
0
Ok, the question asks:

An electron close to a large, flat sheet of charge is repelled from the sheet with a 2.1×10^−12 {N} force.

Q. find the surface charge density on the sheet in C/m^2

What i did was use the formula F = qe with 2.1e-12 for the force and 6.1e-19 for the charge of an electron. This gives me E,which I used in the formula E = (surface charge density)/2epsilon_0.

Plugging everything in (epsilon_0 = 8.85e-12), I get 2.32e-42, but It says it is wrong.

Does anyone know why?

Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org


Your formulas are correct, so there's a calculation error somewhere.

2.32e-42 C/m^2 is less than 1 electron per square kilometer!
 


I keep getting it wrong!

Can anyone verify the above is correct?

Much appreciated.
 


frasifrasi said:
Can anyone verify the above is correct?

The above is not correct. It's 2.32 x (A different power of 10 then -42)

Can you show some intermediate results? What did you get for the E-field?
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Back
Top