Electrostatics: cube with 3 charged walls

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a cube with three adjacent walls that have a uniform area charge density. The objective is to determine the electric field strength at the center of the cube, considering the effects of the charged walls.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts two different methods to calculate the electric field, leading to significantly different results. Some participants question the assumption that each wall contributes equally to the electric field strength, suggesting that the distance from the charges should be considered. Others emphasize the importance of vector directionality in the electric field calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of how to approach the problem. There is no explicit consensus on which method is correct, and participants are providing guidance on considering the vector nature of electric fields and the symmetry of the setup.

Contextual Notes

Participants are discussing the implications of using equations for infinite planes versus finite walls, as well as the need for careful consideration of distances and vector components in the calculations.

Rimantas B.
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Homework Statement


There is a cube with a side length of 0,2m. Its three adjacent walls bear an area charge of -2nC/m2.
Find the strength of the electric field at the center of the cube.

Homework Equations


E = \frac{\sigma}{2 \varepsilon _{0}}
dE = \frac{\sigma dS}{4 \pi \varepsilon _{0} r^{2}}

The Attempt at a Solution



My problem is that I can think of two methods to solve this and get wildly different results.
First attempt:
The first equation is for an infinite plane. However, the walls of the cube are finite. We could say that each of the walls takes 1/6 of the total field of view, so the field strength of each wall would be E _{1} = \frac{\sigma}{12 \varepsilon _{0}}.
Then, using vector addition, we can reason that E _{total} = \sqrt{3} E_1 as they are all perpendicular to each other.
This gives a total field strength of about 65 V/m.

Second attempt:
We could use an area integral to obtain E_{1}. Because of the symmetry, the components of the field not perpendicular to the walls cancel each other out, therefore we can only care about the perpendicular ones. That gives us
dE = \frac{\sigma cos(\alpha) dS}{4 \pi \varepsilon _{0} r^{2}} = \frac{\sigma d dx dy}{4 \pi \varepsilon _{0} r^{3}}
herein d is the fixed distance in one axis from the wall to the center - that is, \frac{a}{2}=0,1m
Placing the center of the coordinate system in the center of the wall, we can integrate from x=-0,1 to 0,1 and y=-0,1 to 0,1.
Doing this gives a result more than ten times smaller than the previous method.

Which is correct, if any?
 
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Your first method confuses me.

Only three of the walls bear charges, so why should each wall possesses the same E field?
It depends on the distance from any charge.

Each charge produces an electric force. Try making a diagram of the cube, showing where the charges are placed in what directions the forces point.R.
 
I meant, all of the charged walls. The distances from each wall to the center are equal. This is a drawing showing the charged walls.
 

Attachments

  • Charged cube.png
    Charged cube.png
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It still was incorrect.

Anyway, if those are the charged walls, just they produce E fields.
So just look closely at where the E fields would point and what their strength would be at the centre of the cube.
Remember E is a vector!
 

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