Electric field a spherical surface

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the electric field related to a spherical surface, with participants exploring different approaches to the problem, including the original poster's method based on Coulomb's law and surface charge distributions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to use Coulomb's law for surface charge to derive the electric field, expressing concerns about discrepancies between their results and the book's solution. Other participants suggest using Gauss's law as a simpler alternative. There are questions about the notation used by the original poster, particularly regarding vector representation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing feedback on the original poster's approach and suggesting alternative methods. There is a focus on clarifying notation and understanding the reasoning behind different approaches, but no consensus has been reached regarding the correctness of the original method.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem may not require a complex approach, as Gauss's law could simplify the solution. There is also mention of potential confusion arising from the notation used in the original poster's explanation.

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Hello
i want to solve this problem via another approach
question:
6161705900_1395566116.jpg

Book Solution:
9461417900_1395566316.jpg


my approach:
Coulomb's law for surface charge:
ex?E%3D%5Cint%20%5Cint%20%28%5Cfrac%7Bdq%7D%7B4%5Cpi%20%5Cvarepsilon%20r%5E2%7D%29%5Cvec%7Bas%7D.gif


gif.gif


as we know the filed point is a fix point and i set the name of h instead of z
(r is in spherical coordinate and haz in cartesian)
gif.gif


so
2%7D%7D%29%28-r%5Cvec%7Bar%7D+h%5Cvec%7Baz%7D%29.gif


ar in spherical coordinate is equal to below statement in cartesian

gif.gif


n%5Ctheta%20Sin%5Cphi%20%5Cvec%7Bay%7D+Cos%5Ctheta%5Cvec%7Baz%7D%29+h%5Cvec%7Baz%7D%29.gif


as we know the intergral of Cos(phi) and Sin(phi) in a total period of phi is equal to zero so the main Integrals can be simplified to the following expression:

2%7D%7D%28rCos%5Ctheta%29%5Cvec%7Baz%7D.gif


i seprate the above integral to two statement

2%7D%7D%5Cvec%7Baz%7D.gif


the below intergal because of is equal zero

gif.gif


2%7D%7D%28rCos%5Ctheta%29%5Cvec%7Baz%7D%3D0.gif


so the output is that is different between this way and the book solution

2%7D%7D%5Cvec%7Baz%7D.gif


what is my problem? and how can find the electric filed in out and in of spherical surface via this approach?

Thanks
 
Last edited:
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Well, there's the posted solution's hard way and then there's your hard way (don't know what you did wrong).
Then there's the easy way: Gaussian surface, which you should invoke since the problem does not force you to do it the hard way. Just ignore the hint - completely!
 
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I am having trouble understanding your notation. Can you clarify what ##\vec{as}## is? It seems to me that you are trying to write the electric field in vector notation. If so, the vector notation is:
$$\vec{E}=\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon \,\,r^3}\,\vec{r}$$
Notice that its ##r^3## in the denominator.

And yes, Gauss law is a nice way to solve the problem but I guess the problem requires you to take the harder approach.
 
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Pranav-Arora said:
I am having trouble understanding your notation. Can you clarify what ##\vec{as}## is? It seems to me that you are trying to write the electric field in vector notation. If so, the vector notation is:
$$\vec{E}=\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon \,\,r^3}\,\vec{r}$$
Notice that its ##r^3## in the denominator.

Hello dear user
thanks for your response.
yes gauss law is a shortest way to find the electric filed of this question.but i want to know what is my wrong in this approach that i get different answer?

$$\vec{E}=\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon \,\,r^3}\,\vec{r}$$
yes \vec(as) is equal to \vec(ar).in electrodynamic of david giriffts he set different char to avoid confusion with ar in spherical and cylindrical coordinates.
 
Hello
i want to know my approach is wrong or i do some mistake?
Thank you
 

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