Electric Flux and Gauss' Law of point charges

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the total electric flux through a spherical surface due to two point charges, q1 and q2. The user initially attempted to find the flux by only considering charge q2, leading to an incorrect calculation due to a unit conversion error. The correct approach involves ensuring proper unit conversions and considering both charges when applicable. A suggestion was made to present the problem accurately to facilitate easier troubleshooting. The user was reassured that their method was fundamentally correct despite the initial mistake.
robbondo
Messages
90
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A point charge q_{1} = 4.15 \times 10^-6 is located on the x-axis at x = 1.80 m, and a second point charge q_{2} = -5.80 \times 10^-6 C is on the y-axis at y = 1.10 m. What is the total electric flux due to these two point charges through a spherical surface centered at the origin and with radius r = 1.45 m?
Take the permittivity of free space to be 8.85 \times 10^{-12}\:{\rm C}^{2}/{\rm N \cdot m}^{2}.


Homework Equations



\phi_{E} = \frac{Q_{enclosed}}{\epsilon_{0}}




The Attempt at a Solution



I just divided the one charge inside the sphere by epsilon naught.

\frac{q_{2}}{\epsilon_{0}}

So I get, -6.55 \times 10^{5}

I'm sure I screwed something obvious up, any suggestions?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
robbondo said:

Homework Equations



\phi_{E} = \frac{Q_{enclosed}}{\epsilon_{0}}

The Attempt at a Solution



I just divided the one charge inside the sphere by epsilon naught.

\frac{q_{2}}{\epsilon_{0}}

So I get, -6.55 \times 10^{5}

I'm sure I screwed something obvious up, any suggestions?

Why are you sure you messed up? Show the calculation you made and also be sure to show your units.
 
I know I'm wrong because this hw's online and I got it wrong, and I loose points for every wrong answer suckily. Well the units for q were nanocoulombs which I changed to coulombs and then epsilon naught is {\rm C}^{2}/{\rm N \cdot {m}}^{2}. So they cancel out do give {\rm N \cdot m}^{2}/ \rm C}

Calculation was \frac{-5.8 \cdot 10^{-12}}{8.85 \cdot 10^{-12}}

crap... I used the wrong changing of units it 1 \cdot 10^{-9} coulombs per nanocoulombs... not -6.

Thanks solo.
 
robbondo said:
crap... I used the wrong changing of units it 1 \cdot 10^{-9} coulombs per nanocoulombs... not -6.

Thanks solo.

Well, that was easy on me... As a suggestion, when you present a problem in the forum, type it in exactly as it appeared originally. That would have made the SI prefix error easy to spot. Your method was correct!
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Back
Top