Electric potential, field and charge density problem check

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around electric potential, electric fields, and volume charge density in the context of a rod and spherical coordinates. The original poster describes their setup involving a rod with endpoints on the x-axis and seeks clarification on their calculations and understanding of the problem.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to find the electric field from the electric potential and questions their setup for calculating volume charge density in spherical coordinates. They express confusion regarding the bounds of integration observed in a similar problem discussed by their teacher.

Discussion Status

Some participants provide feedback on the original poster's work, with one noting the need for different integrals due to varying charge distributions in different regions. There is an exploration of the implications of treating certain variables as constants versus variables, but no consensus is reached on the original poster's approach.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions difficulties in copying down a proof provided by their teacher and expresses uncertainty about the integration bounds in their setup. There is an indication of missing information regarding the specifics of the charge distribution and the original potential equation.

DaConfusion
Messages
36
Reaction score
0
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8198&stc=1&d=1162609042
V – Electric potential

I drew the picture of basically a rod with end points a and –a on the x-axis with a point b that sits as well on the x positive axis.

Assuming that is correct, I then am asked to find the electric field using my previous answer on the same point. I did not partially derrive with respect to y or z for the j and k vector components because the original potential equation has no y or z variables which means 0.
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8199&stc=1&d=1162609042

Please let me know if the problems are worked out correctly.

My next question is:

Finding the volume charge density in spherical coordinates bounded by:

https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8200&stc=1&d=1162609042

The formula was given by my teacher as he told us to use that in spherical charge denisty problems. He proved it through a tedious triple integral which I was not able to completely copy down.
The problem I am having is I thought I was correctly setting up the problem but when he was doing a similar problem today on magnetism i noticed his bounds resulted in having each integral with 2-3 parts. Like a to r plus r to 2a and etc. I do not understand.

Please help me, if you guys need more details let me know.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
DaConfusion said:
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8198&stc=1&d=1162609042
V – Electric potential

I drew the picture of basically a rod with end points a and –a on the x-axis with a point b that sits as well on the x positive axis.

Assuming that is correct, I then am asked to find the electric field using my previous answer on the same point. I did not partially derrive with respect to y or z for the j and k vector components because the original potential equation has no y or z variables which means 0.
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8199&stc=1&d=1162609042

Please let me know if the problems are worked out correctly.

My next question is:

Finding the volume charge density in spherical coordinates bounded by:

https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8200&stc=1&d=1162609042

The formula was given by my teacher as he told us to use that in spherical charge denisty problems. He proved it through a tedious triple integral which I was not able to completely copy down.
The problem I am having is I thought I was correctly setting up the problem but when he was doing a similar problem today on magnetism i noticed his bounds resulted in having each integral with 2-3 parts. Like a to r plus r to 2a and etc. I do not understand.

Please help me, if you guys need more details let me know.

none of the links work for me.
 
problem4.jpg


problem5.jpg


problem6.jpg
 
all that work is mine so please help, I typed it up on microsoft equation editor 3.0 then pasted into paintbrush and uploaded it as an image.
 
it's been a year since I've had e&m, but the first part looks ok. I'm kind of confused on the second part, because you're saying a is a variable. i thought a was a constant? i guess it doesn't really matter, because the general formula on the axis would be a---->x

the second one requires different integrals because the charge distribution is different for different regions. so, you'd need an integral for each of those regions to accurately calclulate stuff. i.e. 0->a, a->2a -- each region has a different density. make sense?

i had a rough time in e&m (even if i did get an A), so don't take my word as law.
 
I see, let me try and get more clarification on the 3rd question. As for the second, a was constant but I have to differentiate with respect to x for the i component. Would I use the source point or field? I considered a to be the source which is technically x so i showed that by differentiating with respect to a.
 

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
6K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
11K
Replies
5
Views
2K