Electric Flux through a Spherical Surface at the Origin

Black Armadillo
Messages
12
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A point charge q_1 = 3.45 nC is located on the x-axis at x = 1.90 m, and a second point charge q_2 = -6.95 nC is on the y-axis at y = 1.20 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_2 = 1.65 m?


Homework Equations


\Phi=\oint E_\bot dA
A=4\pi r^2
E=\frac{kq}{r^2}


The Attempt at a Solution


I started with:
\Phi=\oint \frac{kq}{r^2} dA
\Phi=A \oint \frac{kq}{r^2} dy
\Phi=4\pi r^2 \oint \frac{kq}{r^2} dy

To get r I did:
x^2+y^2=r^2
x^2+y^2=1.65^2
x=\sqrt{1.65^2-y^2}

r=\sqrt{(\sqrt{1.65^2-y^2})^2+(y-1.20)^2}

So:
\Phi=4\pi r^2 \oint \frac{kq}{1.65^2-y^2+(y-1.20)^2} dy

Evaluating this integral from -1.65 to 1.65 gives -1992.28 Nm^2/C

I'm pretty sure I'm setting up this integral completely wrong. Any help on how to do it correctly would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advanced for your help.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Why mess around with integrals? Use Gauss's law.
 
remember that the flux through a closed surface is equal to the charge enclosed divided by epsilon_not. aka gauss's law
 
By use Gauss's law do you mean \Phi=\frac{q}{\epsilon_0}? If so don't I need to know that permittivity of free space (\epsilon_0), which isn't given in the problem?
 
Alright I found that epsilon_0 = 8.854E-12. Thanks for your help.
 
Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'
This figure is from "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths (3rd edition). It is available to download. It is from page 142. I am hoping the usual people on this site will give me a hand understanding what is going on in the figure. After the equation (4.50) it says "It is customary to introduce the principal quantum number, ##n##, which simply orders the allowed energies, starting with 1 for the ground state. (see the figure)" I still don't understand the figure :( Here is...
Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'
The last problem I posted on QM made it into advanced homework help, that is why I am putting it here. I am sorry for any hassle imposed on the moderators by myself. Part (a) is quite easy. We get $$\sigma_1 = 2\lambda, \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_2 = \lambda, \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_3 = -\lambda, \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ -1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} $$ There are two ways...
Back
Top