Gauss's Law Homework: Find Surface Charge Density

[musicman05]

Homework Statement

On a clear, sunny day, a vertical electrical field of about 116 N/C points down over flat ground. What is the surface charge density on the ground for these conditions?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

116*8.83e-12= 1.0266e-9

 

[Dick]

That's not much of an explanation of what you did. The interior of the ground is approximately a conductor. You want the effect of the surface charge layer to produce 116V/m above the ground and 0V/m below it when added to the external field.