Electrostatic force on a test charge by uniformly charged annular disc

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the electrostatic force exerted on a test charge by a uniformly charged annular disc. Participants clarify the definitions of total charge (Q) and the infinitesimal charge elements (dQ) on the disc, emphasizing the need for proper integration techniques. The challenge arises in determining the correct variable for integration in the force equation, with suggestions to express the area element (dA) in spatial coordinates for integration purposes. There is a critique of the initial expression for Q, indicating it lacks clarity and correctness. Overall, the conversation aims to refine the mathematical approach to solving the electrostatic force problem.
YK0001
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Homework Statement
A uniformly charged disk with the total charge ##Q##, has an exterior radius of ##b_{1}## and the disc is an annular disc with the interior radius of ##b_{0}##.
A test charge ##q_{t}## has been placed ##\overrightarrow{A}\text{meters}## away from the center of the disk ##\overrightarrow{O}##.
$$\overrightarrow{O} =\begin{bmatrix}0\\0\end{bmatrix}\text{ and }\overrightarrow{A} =\begin{bmatrix}x\\y\end{bmatrix}$$
Calculate the electrostatic force (scalar magnitude with direction or a vector quantity) on ##q_{t}## caused by the disk.
Relevant Equations
Coulomb's law: ##\overrightarrow{F}_{12} = \frac{kq_{1}q_{2}}{\overrightarrow{r_{12}}^{2}}##
Volume by revolving area bound by a function: ##A(x) = \pi(F(x)^2)\text{ and }V = \int_{a}^{b}A(x)dx\text{ or } Y = \int_{c}^{d}A(y)dy##
Since we know that ##Q = \text{Total charge uniformly distributed in the disc}## and the area of the disc is just ##\pi((b_1-b_0)^2)##.
We can define ##dQ_{\tiny{|}}## as the charge of an infinitesimally small point on the disk, and ##Q_{\tiny{|}}## as the chage of an infinitesimally small cross sectional line from the disc, such that ##Q = \pi(\int dQ_{\tiny{|}})^2##. We can then calculate the electrostatic force on ##q_t## from ##dQ_{\tiny{|}}## to be ##dF_{\tiny{|}} = \frac{kQ_{\tiny{|}}q_t}{(r)^2} = \frac{kQ_{\tiny{|}}q_t}{x^2+b^2-2xbcos(\theta)}##, then we can conclude that: $$F_{\tiny{|}} = \int\frac{kdQ_{\tiny{|}}q_{t}}{x^2+b^2-2xbcos(\theta)} = kq_{t}\int\frac{dQ_{\tiny{|}}}{x^2+b^2-2xbcos(\theta)}$$.
This is where the problem arises, I don't know what to integrate the right side to respect with, I've hypothesized that it's with respect to ##Q_{\tiny{|}}## so it looks like ##\int [...] dQ_{\tiny{|}}## because that is the infinitesimally small term already present on that side of the equation, but I am unsure if this is the correct assumption to make, I'm also thinking that there are 3 changing variables in that integral (x, b, theta (theta not really, since we can get that in terms of x and b), but I'm not sure what that integral needs to be).

I have drawn a diagram showing the disc and have attached that as well, the blue shaded areas are charged.
1736648247429.jpeg
 
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YK0001 said:
Since we know that ##Q = \text{Total charge uniformly distributed in the disc}## and the area of the disc is just ##\pi((b_1-b_0)^2)## . . .
. . . we can define a surface charge ##~\sigma =\dfrac{Q}{\pi((b_1-b_0)^2)}.## Then a small area element ##dA## has charge ##dq=\sigma ~dA=\dfrac{Q}{\pi((b_1-b_0)^2)}dA.## Can you express area element ##dA## in terms of spatial coordinates over which you can integrate?

As a matter of clarity, here ##Q## is the given total charge on the disk and a has a constant value. If you wish to subdivide it into small elements, you should given then a different symbol as I have done. Note that ##Q=\int_0^Qdq.## Your expression ##Q = \pi(\int dQ_{\tiny{|}})^2## makes no sense at all.
 
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