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Homework Statement
Suppose the electric field in some region is found to be \bf{E} = kr^3 \bf{\hat{r}}, in spherical coordinates, (k is some constant).
(a) find the charge density \rho
(b) find the total charged contained in a sphere of radius R, centered at the origin. (do it two different ways)
Homework Equations
All of them,
\bf{E(r)} = \frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_o} \int_V \frac{\rho (\bf{r'})}{\varsigma^2} \hat{\varsigma} d\tau' .
\nabla . \bf{E} = \frac{1}{\epsilon_o} \rho <- Gauss's law
noting that \varsigma = \bf{r - r'}
The Attempt at a Solution
re aranging the equation above for rho
\epsilon_o \nabla . \bf{E} = \rho
I know i can use the partial derivative of the vector r for the divergence instead of the traditional partial derivative of x,y,z
\epsilon_o \frac{\partial}{\partial r} . \bf{E} = \rho
substituting in the given E, kr^3 into E
\epsilon_o \frac{\partial}{\partial r} . (k r^3) = \rho
computing the derivative d/dr of r I get,
\epsilon_0 3kr^2
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NOW THIS IS WHERE I NEED HELP FOR THE FIRST QUESTION
I've been told that the answer is 5\epsilon_0 kr^2
can someone please tell me how they got to that?
i'm missing a factor of 2?
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(b):
using gauss's law,
\oint \bf{E} . d\bf{a} = \frac{1}{\epsilon_o} Qenc
where Qenc is the enclosed charge within the surface/shape/sphere
solving for Qenc,
\epsilon_o \oint \bf{E} . d\bf{a} = Qenc
=
\epsilon_o \oint (kr^3) . da = Qenc
because the E field is a constant,
taking it outside of the integral, leaves me with having to integrate the integral over a closed surface da,
and because it's a sphere, the area of the sphere is just 4pir^2 (if i remember correctly)
making the equation end up as
\epsilon_o (kr^3) . (4\pi r^2) = Qenc
leaving the final charge contained in the sphere to be
4\pi \epsilon_o k r^5
- The question asks me to find this equation in two different ways,
I've found it using the only way I know how, using gauss's law
can someone help me think of a different way to find this equation?