- #1
mr.hood
- 8
- 0
Homework Statement
A long uniformly charged ribbon is located in the x-z plane, parallel to the z axis, occupying the region -[tex]\infty[/tex] [tex]\leq[/tex] x [tex]\leq[/tex] [tex]\infty[/tex] and -a/2 [tex]\leq[/tex] x [tex]\leq[/tex] a/2. The charge per unit area on the ribbon is [tex]\sigma[/tex]. a) Determine [tex]\vec{E}[/tex] at (x,0,0) where x > a/2. b) Determine [tex]\vec{E}[/tex] at (0,y,0) where y > 0.
Homework Equations
Gauss' Law
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm split on part (a). My intuition tells me that symmetry should make the electric field point only in the [tex]\underline{+}[/tex]y direction, with no component in the [tex]\underline{+}[/tex]x direction. But is this wrong? Should I make a Gaussian surface (say, a box or a cylinder pointing in the x direction) that straddles the edge of the ribbon to test for flux in the x direction?
Last edited: