Electric Potential and Coulomb's Law Questions

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on solving problems related to electric potential and Coulomb's Law. The first problem involves finding the electric potential function for a uniformly distributed charge along the x-axis, leading to an expression that includes a natural logarithm. The second problem calculates the final velocity of an electron moving through a potential difference of 5 volts, resulting in a speed of 1.33E6 m/s. The third problem examines the kinetic energy of an electron approaching a nucleus with a charge eight times that of an electron, requiring the application of conservation of energy principles.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Coulomb's Law and electric potential equations
  • Familiarity with kinetic energy and potential energy concepts
  • Basic calculus for integration and solving differential equations
  • Knowledge of electron properties, including mass (9.11E-31 kg) and charge (1.6E-19 C)
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of electric potential from charge distributions using integration techniques
  • Learn about energy conservation in electric fields and its applications in particle motion
  • Explore the implications of electric potential differences on charged particles
  • Investigate advanced topics in electrostatics, such as electric field lines and equipotential surfaces
USEFUL FOR

Students studying electromagnetism, physics educators, and anyone interested in the applications of Coulomb's Law and electric potential in real-world scenarios.

dillonmhudson
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Any answers would be great, thanks!

Homework Statement


1. A charge Q is uniformly spread along the x-axis from x=0 to x=l. Find the electric potential function at points on the x-axis for x>l.

2. An electron moves from one point to another where the second point has a larger value of the electric potential by 5 volts. If the initial velocity was zero, how fast will the electron be going at the second point? (The mass of the electron is 9.11E-31 kg)

3. Suppose an electron were moving in a straight line towards a fixed nucleus which had a positive charge 8 times the size of the charge on an electron. If the electron started at infinity with essentially zero velocity, how fast would it be moving when it was 50E-11 m from the nucleus?

Homework Equations



Coulomb's Law = \alpha*[q1*q2]/r^2
where \alpha=1/[4*\pi*\epsilon_{}0

U=1/[4*pi*epsilon-sub0]*[q*q sub0]/r

V=U/[q sub0]

The Attempt at a Solution



1. dV=1/[4*pi*epsilon]*[(Q/l)*dx]/[x-l]
dV=1/[4*pi*epsilon]*Q/l
I don't know what to do with this one, the answer has a natural log (ln) in it.

2. KE(initial) + U(initial) = KE(final) + U(final)
0+1/[4*pi*epsilon]*q/r = 1/2 * m * v(final)^2 + 1/[4*pi*epsilon]*q/r
Not sure what to do here either, seem to have three unknowns
Answer = 1.33E6 m/s

3. KE(initial) + U(initial) = KE(final) + U(final)
0=1/2*9.109E-31(mass of an electron)*v(final)^2+9E9*[8*(1.6E-19)^2]/[50E-11]
I don't understand this one eitherThanks for all the help!
 
Last edited:
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dillonmhudson said:
Any answers would be great, thanks!

Homework Statement


1. A charge Q is uniformly spread along the x-axis from x=0 to x=l. Find the electric potential function at points on the x-axis for x>l.

2. An electron moves from one point to another where the second point has a larger value of the electric potential by 5 volts. If the initial velocity was zero, how fast will the electron be going at the second point? (The mass of the electron is 9.11E-31 kg)

3. Suppose an electron were moving in a straight line towards a fixed nucleus which had a positive charge 8 times the size of the charge on an electron. If the electron started at infinity with essentially zero velocity, how fast would it be moving when it was 50E-11 m from the nucleus?

Homework Equations



Coulomb's Law = \alpha*[q1*q2]/r^2
where \alpha=1/[4*\pi*\epsilon_{}0

U=1/[4*pi*epsilon-sub0]*[q*q sub0]/r

V=U/[q sub0]

The Attempt at a Solution



1. dV=1/[4*pi*epsilon]*[(Q/l)*dx]/[x-l]
dV=1/[4*pi*epsilon]*Q/l
I don't know what to do with this one, the answer has a natural log (ln) in it.
Let s be the position on the x-axis at which the potential is measured. Write out the expression for potential due to the charge element Qdx/l at a position x where 0 \le x \le l

2. KE(initial) + U(initial) = KE(final) + U(final)
0+1/[4*pi*epsilon]*q/r = 1/2 * m * v(final)^2 + 1/[4*pi*epsilon]*q/r
Not sure what to do here either, seem to have three unknowns
Answer = 1.33E6 m/s
How much kinetic energy does the electron acquire in moving to the second point? (Hint: for a negative charge, the second position is at a lower potential energy per unit negative charge by 5 joules/coulomb).

3. KE(initial) + U(initial) = KE(final) + U(final)
0=1/2*9.109E-31(mass of an electron)*v(final)^2+9E9*[8*(1.6E-19)^2]/[50E-11]
I don't understand this one either
What is the potential energy of the electron at infinity? What is it at the given distance? Where does that potential energy go?

AM
 
I'm still not getting question 4...
 
There is no question 4.
 
sorry it's 4 in my book, question 1
 
The electric potential at point P, along the line, is kq/r d is the distance from the end of the rod to the point.
So...
dV = \frac{k}{x}dq
dq = \lambda dx = Q/L dx
dV = \frac{kQ}{Lx}dx
Then integrate from d to L + d.
 
Last edited:
Ok thanks! Got it!
I had:
int[k*[(Q/L)dx]/(a-x)] from 0,L

where L is the distance of where the charge is spread

Thanks a lot!
 

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