Electric Field at Point 36.0 cm from Rod Center

[Artifaxx]

1. A rod 16.0 cm long is uniformly charged and has a total charge of -24.0 µC. Determine the magnitude and direction of the electric field along the axis of the rod at a point 36.0 cm from its center.



2. How is this problem done?



3. http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/f/6/7/f679cf3e13506e73340d176eb06c80b2.png

 

[praharmitra]

Do you know how to use the gauss law?

 

[Doc Al]

You'll need to integrate the field contribution from each charge element along the rod.

 

[Artifaxx]

At praharmitra: No I don't know how.

At Doc Al: What is the equation for that?

 

[Doc Al]

Coulomb's law... the one you linked.

(FYI: Gauss's law won't help here.)

 

[praharmitra]

Coulomb's law... the one you linked.

(FYI: Gauss's law won't help here.)

Ah! you're right! I didn't read the bit where we need to calculate E along the axis! And I also missed the part where the rod wasn't infinite.

my bad.

 

[Artifaxx]

Thank you. I got it.