Electric field and potential problem

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating Earth's electric field and potential just outside its surface, given a surface charge density of 1 electron/m² and Earth's radius of 6400 km. The initial calculations were incorrect due to the omission of the permittivity of free space (ε0) in the formulas for electric field (E) and potential (V). After including ε0, the correct electric field was found to be approximately -1.8×10^-8 V/m, and the potential was calculated as -0.116 volts. The conclusion confirms that using R for calculations is valid due to its large size compared to the infinitesimal displacement. The final solutions provided are accurate and resolve the initial errors.
gracy
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Homework Statement



Suppose that Earth has a surface charge density of 1 electron/metre^2 .Calculate Earth's potential and electric field just outside Earth's surface.Radius of Earth 6400 km

Homework Equations


surface charge density of sphere=##Q##/##4πR^2##

The Attempt at a Solution


Let's assume Earth to be spherical.Then
surface charge density of sphere=##Q##/##4πR^2##
##Q##=-##1.6##×##10^-19##×##4πR^2##
Electrical field of a sphere at distance r=##E##=##\frac{Q}{4πr^2}##
Earth's field just outside Earth's surface
We can take r=R
Therefore Earth's field =just outside Earth's surface=##E##=##\frac{Q}{4πR^2}##
=##E##=##\frac{-1.6×10^-19×4πR^2}{4πR^2}##
=-1.6×10^-19V/m
But it is wrong.I want to know what went wrong.Similarly in case of potential difference
##V##=##\frac{Q}{4πR}##
=##\frac{-1.6×10^-19×4πR^2}{4πR}##
=-1.6×10^-19×R
=-1.6×10^-19×64×10^5
=102.4×10^-14 V
It is also wrong,I want reason.
Thanks!
EDIT:I think I have got .There is something called"ε0".
gracy!
 
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So,just put ##ε0##in formula of ##E##And ##V##.Problem solved.
Solution:##E##=##\frac{Q}{4πε0R^2}##

=##\frac{-1.6×10^-19×4πR^2}{4πε0R^2}##

=##\frac{-1.6×10^-19}{8.854×10^-12}##

=-1.8×10^-8 volt/m

Solution:##V##=##\frac{Q}{4πε0R}##

=##\frac{-1.6×10^-19×4πR^2}{4πε0R}##

= ##\frac{ 1.6×10^-19×R}{ε0}##

=-##\frac{1.6×10^-19×64×10^5}{8.854×10^-12}##

=-0.116 volt
 
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gracy said:
Earth's field just outside Earth's surface
We can take r=R
Am I right here?
 
gracy said:
Am I right here?
Yes, that's fine. Technically it would be r = R + ε, where ε is an infinitesimal displacement so that you're just barely off the surface of the sphere. But R is so large by comparison that R + ε → R.
 
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