Electric potential at center of charged rod

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the electric potential at the center of a uniformly charged rod of length 2a. The initial attempt used the formula dV = kλdx/r, with r set to x, leading to an integral that incorrectly evaluates to zero. Participants clarified that the integral does not exist in this context, and emphasized that the potential at point B cannot be zero, as the potential is typically zero at infinity.

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Homework Statement


Find potential of a uniformly charged rod of length 2a

Homework Equations


-Superposition

The Attempt at a Solution


[tex]dV=\frac{kλdx}{r}, r=x[/tex]
[tex]V=λk\int\limits_{-a}^a \frac{1}{x}\mathrm dx=0[/tex]

Potential at point B is zero. Is this correct?
 

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No. Your integral doesn't exist. But even before, what is it you are integrating, and over what are you integrating ?

As a check: it is likely that V = 0 at infinity, so it can't be 0 at pont B.
 

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