# Homework Help: Find the magnitude of the electric field at regions 2 and 3.

1. Feb 16, 2017

### Mason Smith

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
The three parallel planes of charge shown in the figure have surface charge densities (-1/2)η, η, and (-1/2)η.

2. Relevant equations
I think that the electric field is equal to eta divided by epsilon naught.

3. The attempt at a solution
Well, I know that the electric field at regions 1 and 4 are zero.
E1 = E4 = (-1/2)η + η + (-1/2)η = 0.
I know that the electric field in region 2 points upward and that the electric field at region 3 points downward. However, I am not sure how to calculate the electric field in these regions. How do I go about calculating the electric field in these regions?

2. Feb 16, 2017

### TSny

Check your notes. The field due to a single infinite plane of charge density $\eta$ is not $\frac{\eta}{\epsilon_0}$.

How do you know that? The reason I ask this question is that the logic for deducing that the field is zero in regions 1 and 4 is similar to the logic for finding the fields in regions 2 and 3.

3. Feb 16, 2017

### Mason Smith

Oh, yes. I confused the electric field for an infinite plane of charge with the electric field of a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium.
Well, when I worked the problem by saying that E4 = E1, I got an answer of zero. I put that answer into MasteringPhysics. The answer was correct. Using that same reasoning with the electric field in regions 2 and 3 proved wrong.

4. Feb 16, 2017

### TSny

How did you get the answer of zero? What steps of reasoning did you use?

Share this great discussion with others via Reddit, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook

Have something to add?
Draft saved Draft deleted