Electric fields and conductors

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the electric field created by conductors, particularly at points very close to their surfaces. Participants explore the application of Gauss' law and the implications of surface charge density on electric field calculations, addressing both theoretical and conceptual aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the electric field at a point extremely close to a conductor can be expressed as the sum of fields from an element of the surface and the rest of the conductor, leading to confusion about the correct application of Gauss' law.
  • Another participant argues that applying Gauss' law to a conductor with surface charge density results in an electric field of ##E=\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}##, which contrasts with the field from an infinite sheet of charge, which is ##E=\frac{\sigma}{2\epsilon_0}##.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the treatment of the electric field inside the conductor and how it affects the calculations, particularly regarding the Gaussian surface used.
  • There is a repeated emphasis on the need to consider the electric field contributions from both the surface charge and the conductor itself, leading to differing interpretations of the resulting electric field values.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct application of Gauss' law in this context, with multiple competing views on how to interpret the electric field contributions from the conductor and the surface charge density.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in their reasoning, particularly regarding the assumptions made about the Gaussian surface and the treatment of the electric field inside the conductor, which remains unresolved.

archaic
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Hello guys!
The electric field created by a conductor at a point $M$ extremely close to it is ##\vec{E}=\vec{E_1}+\vec{E_2}## where ##\vec{E_1}## is the electric field created by such a tiny bit of the conductor that we can suppose it to be a plane, and since ##M## is extremely close to the conductor such that the distance is really small compared to the size of the plane we further ahead assimilate it to an infinite plane and hence ##\vec{E_1}=\frac{\sigma}{2\epsilon_0}## and this is where I block, when we use Gauss' law on an infinite plane we also account for the electric fields on the other side of the cylinder (here our gaussian surface) i.e the part inside the conductor, but in the case of the conductor the electric field inside of it would be ##\vec{0}## and so ##\vec{E_1}## should be ##\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}## (##E \pi r^2 + 0 + 0= \frac{\sigma \pi r^2}{\epsilon_0}##)
(I have no idea why latex isn't processing this ^)
I cannot see where I've gone wrong.
 
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I think you are trying to put a Gaussian surface around a conductor that has a surface charge density ## \sigma ##. Applying Gauss' law, you get ## \\## ## E (2 \pi r)L=\frac{\sigma (2 \pi r L)}{\epsilon_o} ## so that ## E=\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_o} ##, (pointing radially outward). ## \\ ## This should come as no surprise, even though for an infinite sheet of charge ## E=\frac{\sigma}{2 \epsilon_o} ##.
 
Charles Link said:
I think you are trying to put a Gaussian surface around a conductor that has a surface charge density ## \sigma ##. Applying Gauss' law, you get ## \\## ## E (2 \pi r)L=\frac{\sigma (2 \pi r L)}{\epsilon_o} ## so that ## E=\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_o} ##, (pointing radially outward). ## \\ ## This should come as no surprise, even though for an infinite sheet of charge ## E=\frac{\sigma}{2 \epsilon_o} ##.
Not exactly that, Coulomb's theorem states that the electric field created by a conductor on a point M extremely close can represented as the sum of the field created by an element of surface (which the point is so close to and thus can be "seen" as an infinite sheet of charge density ##\sigma## resulting in ##
\vec{E_1}=\frac{\sigma}{2\epsilon_0}## ) and the rest of the conductor. My problem is with the field created by that one tiny element we've assimilated to be an infinite sheet because when applying Gauss' law with a cylinder as the Gaussian surface, the part of the cylinder that is *inside* the conductor will see no electric field and so, as I see it, ##E_1 \pi r^2 + 0 + 0 = \frac{\sigma \pi r^2}{\epsilon_0}## whereas this should be ##\vec{E_1}=\frac{\sigma}{2\epsilon_0}## apparently
 
archaic said:
Not exactly that, Coulomb's theorem states that the electric field created by a conductor on a point M extremely close can represented as the sum of the field created by an element of surface (which the point is so close to and thus can be "seen" as an infinite sheet of charge density ##\sigma## resulting in ##
\vec{E_1}=\frac{\sigma}{2\epsilon_0}## ) and the rest of the conductor. My problem is with the field created by that one tiny element we've assimilated to be an infinite sheet because when applying Gauss' law with a cylinder as the Gaussian surface, the part of the cylinder that is *inside* the conductor will see no electric field and so, as I see it, ##E_1 \pi r^2 + 0 + 0 = \frac{\sigma \pi r^2}{\epsilon_0}## whereas this should be ##\vec{E_1}=\frac{\sigma}{2\epsilon_0}## apparently
##E_2 ## is more difficult to solve for, but in the case of a cylinder, ir must be ##E_2=\frac{\sigma}{2 \epsilon_o} ##.
 

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