- #1
awvvu
- 188
- 1
Homework Statement
An infinitely wide conductor (shaded thing on top) is parallel to and at a distance d from an infinitely wide plane of charge (line on bottom) with surface charge density delta. What are the electric fields [itex]E_1[/itex] to [itex]E_4[/itex] in the regions 1 to 4?
Code:
1
-------------------------
2 / / / / / / / /
-------------------------
3
_________________________
4
The Attempt at a Solution
[itex]E_2 = 0[/itex], as the charges move to the surface.
A Gaussian pillbox that extends a bit out of the conductor has a net flux [itex]E A = \delta A / \epsilon_0[/itex], and so [itex]E = \delta / \epsilon_0[/itex]. So, [itex]E_1 = E[/itex] and [itex]E_3 = -E[/itex]. I'm getting a little confused about finding E_4. Is it 2E, since there's twice as much flux as there was through a pillbox just above the conductor?
Actually, I'm getting confused about the whole thing. When I have a Gaussian surface that encompasses two different electric fields I want to find, which one am I "getting" when I do the calculations?
Also, is there some way to check this by using superposition or something?
Last edited: