Electric field of a line of charge with symmetry

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the electric field of a line of charge using the formula E=KQ/R², with K being a constant. The user attempted to solve the problem by integrating the charge distribution and considering symmetry, leading to an expression for the electric field. However, they initially overlooked that the direction of the unit vector r depends on the position x, which is not constant. After acknowledging this mistake, they corrected their approach to focus on the y-component of the electric field. The final expression for the electric field is noted as 2kλ/R in the radial direction.
Regtic
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Homework Statement


http://imgur.com/W4Ntkfb

Homework Equations


E=KQ/R2
e= electric field
Q = charge
R = radius from point to charge
K is a constant, 9x109


The Attempt at a Solution


http://imgur.com/4CTEwDw

If my handwriting sucks, I basically did the standard integral of k\intdq /r2 but kept the r hat vector since there is symmetry and I know that the magnitude will be be in the y direction. I used dq=\lambdadx and r2=x2+a2 which gave me an integral that was an arctan integral. By substituting a for x, I got E= \frac{k \lambda \pi}{2a} in the radial direction.

The answer should be √2k\lambda/a upwards and perpendicular to the line of charge
 
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Regtic said:

Homework Statement


http://imgur.com/W4Ntkfb

Homework Equations


E=KQ/R2
e= electric field
Q = charge
R = radius from point to charge
K is a constant, 9x109


The Attempt at a Solution


http://imgur.com/4CTEwDw

If my handwriting sucks, I basically did the standard integral of k\intdq /r2 but kept the r hat vector since there is symmetry and I know that the magnitude will be be in the y direction. I used dq=\lambdadx and r2=x2+a2 which gave me an integral that was an arctan integral. By substituting a for x, I got E= \frac{k \lambda \pi}{2a} in the radial direction.

The answer should be 2k\lambda/R r hat.
##\hat{r}\ ## depends on x, it's not constant.

You failed to take that into account.


Here's the image for the link to your problem.
attachment.php?attachmentid=69770&stc=1&d=1400044878.png


##\hat{r}\ ## depends on x, it's not constant.

You failed to take that into account.
 

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SammyS said:
##\hat{r}\ ## depends on x, it's not constant.

You failed to take that into account.Here's the image for the link to your problem.
attachment.php?attachmentid=69770&stc=1&d=1400044878.png


##\hat{r}\ ## depends on x, it's not constant.

You failed to take that into account.

Oh right it's not constant in direction... was just thinking of that as a constant. Derp, shouldn't be studying this late. Thank you. Redid it with Ey and got it.

also it seems whenever I post photos directly into the forum they become ridiculously large, or maybe that's just photos from Iphone...
 
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