Electric Field Inside a Hydrogen Atom

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the electric field inside a hydrogen atom, specifically the charge enclosed within a sphere of radius r centered on the proton. The proton has a charge of +Q (1.60 × 10-19 C), while the electron has a charge of -Q (−1.60 × 10-19 C) and is modeled as a charge density ρ(r) = -Q/(πa03) e-2r/a0, where a0 is the Bohr radius (5.29 × 10-11 m). The solution involves integrating the charge density from 0 to r, concluding that for r less than the electron's distance, the enclosed charge is +Q, and for r greater than the electron's distance, the total charge is zero.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of point charges and electric fields
  • Familiarity with charge density and integration
  • Knowledge of the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom
  • Basic calculus skills for integration
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  • Learn about charge density functions and their applications
  • Explore the implications of the Bohr model on atomic structure
  • Practice integrating functions to find enclosed charge in various geometries
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Homework Statement


A hydrogen atom is made up of a proton of charge + Q=1.60 \times 10^{ - 19}\; {\rm C} and an electron of charge - Q= - 1.60 \times 10^{ - 19}\; {\rm C}. The proton may be regarded as a point charge at r=0, the center of the atom. The motion of the electron causes its charge to be "smeared out" into a spherical distribution around the proton, so that the electron is equivalent to a charge per unit volume of \rho (r)= - {\frac{Q}{ \pi a_{0} ^{3}}} e^{ - 2r/a_{0}} where a_0=5.29 \times 10^{ - 11} {\rm m} is called the Bohr radius

Find the total amount of the hydrogen atom's charge that is enclosed within a sphere with radius r centered on the proton.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



do I just try and divide out the volume.
 
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Well one can presumably just integrate charge density from 0 to r to get charge enclosed.
 
Here's my guess:
between the proton and the electron, the electron's charge cancels out, since there is no charge inside a uniformly charged sphere. So if r is less than the electron's distance than charge = +Q. If r is greater than the electron's distance, outside a uniformly charged sphere, the sphere can be treated as a point mass at the center of the sphere. So outside the electron's position charge = +Q-Q = 0.
 
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