Electric field of ring of charge/washer of charge/disk of charge

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on calculating the electric field of a washer of charge and a ring of charge, specifically at a point along the axis of symmetry. Participants utilize charge density equations and electric field equations to derive expressions for the electric fields generated by these geometries. Key equations include the electric field for a ring, given by E_ring = (kλ2π2R2z) / (2R2^2 + z^2)^(3/2), and for a disk, E_disk = (2πzQ) / (4πε0(πR2^2 - πR1^2)) [1/(z^2 + R1^2)^(1/2) - 1/(z^2 + R2^2)^(1/2)]. The discussion emphasizes integrating charge distributions and balancing electric fields to solve for the unknown charge density, λ.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric field equations and charge density concepts.
  • Familiarity with integration techniques for continuous charge distributions.
  • Knowledge of Coulomb's law and its application in electrostatics.
  • Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions involving physical constants like ε0.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of electric fields for different charge distributions, focusing on washers and rings.
  • Learn about the application of integration in calculating electric fields from continuous charge distributions.
  • Explore the use of Coulomb's law in various geometrical configurations of charge.
  • Investigate the implications of charge density variations on electric field calculations.
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in physics, particularly those focusing on electromagnetism, as well as anyone involved in solving electrostatic problems related to charge distributions.

cookiemnstr510510
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Homework Statement


IMG_3775.jpg


Homework Equations


charge density equations, electric field equations,

The Attempt at a Solution



My attempts are attached. The attachment labeled A, is part A. Part B took a lot of paper so there are two attachments labeled B1 and B2. It is really B and C that I am struggling with. Not sure if I am on the right track or if it is correct. Any help would be much appreciated!

A little more thought: All the problems I have done in the back of my physics textbook are not like part B. I can find the electric field of a disk without a cut out in it. My thought process of finding the electric field with a cut out in it is integrating from the smaller radius to the larger radius. However, The total area of the washer is piR2^2-piR1^2. I plugged this result into my surface charge density toward the end of my solution.

My attempt at solution C:
Washer has charge +Q, Ring has radius 2R2, Lambda=Q/L
Clearly the charge on the ring has to be negative
therefore Lambda on ring is: -Q/4piR2

Thanks in advanced[/B]
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3775.jpg
    IMG_3775.jpg
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  • A.JPG
    A.JPG
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  • B1.JPG
    B1.JPG
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  • B2.JPG
    B2.JPG
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B1.JPG is correct. APG is also correct. Combine the two results and set it equal to zero with ## z=3 R_2 ##. ## \\ ## In APG, you must set ## Q=2 \pi (2R_2) \lambda=4 \pi R_2 \lambda ##, and ## R=2R_2 ##. (This is not the same ## Q ## that you have in B1.JPG. so call it ## Q' ##. It turns out ## Q' \neq Q ##. ). ## \\ ## Suggestion: Call the ## E_z ## at ## z=3R_2 ## by ## E_1 ## and ## E_2 ##. You must have ## E_1+E_2=0 ##, which means ## E_2=-E_1 ##. Your answer above for ## \lambda ## is incorrect, but the rest is really just algebra. Try again. I'll be happy to check your result. (Note: ## E_2 ## is an expression that has ## \lambda ## in it, and ## E_1 ## has ## Q ## in it. Using ## E_2=-E_1 ##, solve for ## \lambda ##).
 
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Thank you! I’ll work on it tomorrow and respond! Appreciate it
 
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Charles Link said:
B1.JPG is correct. APG is also correct. Combine the two results and set it equal to zero with ## z=3 R_2 ##. ## \\ ## In APG, you must set ## Q=2 \pi (2R_2) \lambda=4 \pi R_2 \lambda ##, and ## R=2R_2 ##. (This is not the same ## Q ## that you have in B1.JPG. so call it ## Q' ##. It turns out ## Q' \neq Q ##. ). ## \\ ## Suggestion: Call the ## E_z ## at ## z=3R_2 ## by ## E_1 ## and ## E_2 ##. You must have ## E_1+E_2=0 ##, which means ## E_2=-E_1 ##. Your answer above for ## \lambda ## is incorrect, but the rest is really just algebra. Try again. I'll be happy to check your result. (Note: ## E_2 ## is an expression that has ## \lambda ## in it, and ## E_1 ## has ## Q ## in it. Using ## E_2=-E_1 ##, solve for ## \lambda ##).
Okay, So I am finally looking at your response in more detail.
What I have so far is:
E2 is electric field for concentric ring
E2=(k)(lambda)(dl)/r^2
I see what you mean that E1 + E2 has to = 0. Therefore E2=-E1. I guess my question is did I already solve for E1 in image B1JPG?
 
Yes, that is ##E_1 ## and it is correct.## \\ ## And ## E_2 ## is correct in A1JPG, but you need to set ## R=2R_2 ##, and ## Q =2 \pi (2R_2) \lambda ##. (As previously mentioned, this is not the same ## Q ## that it in B2jpg).## \\ ## In your post 4 here, ## E_2 ## is missing the ## \cos(\theta) =\frac{z}{(R^2+z^2)^{1/2} } ## factor.
 
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Okay, I believe I see what you are saying-
Ering= (kλ2pi2R2z)/(2R22 + z2)(3/2)
and
EDisk= (2pizQ)/((4piε0(piR22-piR12)) [1/(z2+R12)1/2-1/(z2+R22)1/2]

Then I say ERing+EDisk=0 and solve for lambda?
That seems like some really tedious algebra which I haven't tried yet. Wanted to know if this was the correct method before I try to do it.
Thanks!
 
cookiemnstr510510 said:
Okay, I believe I see what you are saying-
Ering= (kλ2pi2R2z)/(2R22 + z2)(3/2)
and
EDisk= (2pizQ)/((4piε0(piR22-piR12)) [1/(z2+R12)1/2-1/(z2+R22)1/2]

Then I say ERing+EDisk=0 and solve for lambda?
That seems like some really tedious algebra which I haven't tried yet. Wanted to know if this was the correct method before I try to do it.
Thanks!
Quite a bit of that "cancels out" . You should either use Coulomb's coefficient, ##\ k\ ##, for both or ##\ \displaystyle \frac{1}{4\pi \varepsilon_0}\ ##. I suggest the latter. Gets rid of some ##\ \pi \, ##s .

You have: ##\ \displaystyle E_{Ring} = \frac{kλ2\pi 2 R_2\, z} { \left( 2{R_2}^2 + z^2 \right)^{3/2}}\ ## but I suppose you should be squaring (2R2), not just the R2 .

Changing to ε0 form and the above correction gives:
##\ \displaystyle E_{Ring} = \frac{2\, \lambda \pi \, 2 R_2\, z} { 4\pi\,\varepsilon_0 \left( {(2R_2)}^2 + z^2 \right)^{3/2}}\ ##​

The expression for the disk is:
##\ \displaystyle E_{Disk} = \frac{2\pi z \,Q} {(4 \pi \varepsilon_0) \left(\pi {R_2}^2 - \pi {R_1}^2 \right)}
\left(\frac{1}{( z^2 + {R_1}^2 )^{1/2} } - \frac{1}{(z^2 + {R_2}^2 )^{1/2} } \right) ##
.
 
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Okay! I’ll try it out! Thanks
 
cookiemnstr510510 said:
Okay! I’ll try it out! Thanks
I was editing that for a while. Just got finished.
 
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okay so:
E ring= λz(2R2/[2ε0((2R2)2+z2))3/2
and
E washer= zQ/2ε0(piR22-piR12) [1/√R12+z2 - 1/√R22+z2]
then we say E ring=-E washer, solving for λ-
λ=-Q((2R2)2+z2))3/2/2R2(piR22-piR12) [1/√R12+z2 - 1/√R22+z2]

Im guessing no one wants to check my algebra LOL, just wanted to make sure this approach is correct, as long as my approach is correct my teacher is pretty lenient on algebraic mistakes with long calculations like this
 

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