Electric field and potential problem

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
3 replies · 3K views
gracy
Messages
2,486
Reaction score
83

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!
 
on Phys.org
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
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: BvU
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.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: gracy