Given the electric flux find the total charge in a tiny sphere

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the total charge within a tiny sphere given an electric flux density vector. The context is rooted in electromagnetism, specifically applying Gauss' Law to a three-dimensional charge distribution described in Cartesian coordinates.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore using the divergence theorem and discuss the integration of the divergence over the volume of the sphere.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about converting the electric flux density to spherical coordinates and integrating it correctly.
  • There are questions regarding the correctness of terms in the divergence calculation and the implications of evaluating it only at the center of the sphere.
  • Concerns are raised about the complexity of the integration process and potential simplifications.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights and corrections to each other's calculations. Some guidance has been offered regarding approximations and the need to integrate over the entire volume rather than just evaluating at a point. Multiple interpretations of the problem and approaches are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need to account for potential typos in the expressions and the challenge of integrating in Cartesian coordinates. There is also a reference to the specific dimensions of the problem, including the radius of the sphere and the coordinates of its center.

kacete
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Homework Statement


Given the Electric flux density of [tex]\vec{D}=\frac{100xy}{z^{2}+1}\vec{u_{x}}+\frac{50x^{2}}{z^{2}+1}\vec{u_{y}}+\frac{100x^{2}yz}{(z^{2}+1)^{2}}\vec{u_{x}} C/m^{2}[/tex] find the total charge inside a tiny sphere with a radius of [tex]r=1\mu m[/tex] centered in [tex]c(5,8,1)[/tex].

Homework Equations


According to Gauss' Law
[tex]\oint\vec{D}.d\vec{s}=Q_{involved charge}[/tex]
Solution
[tex]Q=2,26.10^{-14}C[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


In the previous exercises, the Electric flux expression was in spheric coordinates, which was easy to integrate using Gauss' Law. In this one I don't know where to begin, cause I tried converting it to spheric coordinates but it turned out to become a huge equation and there must be an easier way to solve it.
 
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You might try using the divergence theorem here:wink:
 
I got the following result:

[tex]\vec{\nabla}.\vec{D}=\frac{100y}{z^{2}+1}-\frac{400x^{2}y^{2}z}{(z^{2}+1)^{3}}[/tex]

Then I replaced with the coordinates and got:

[tex]\vec{\nabla}.\vec{D}=-79600[/tex]

Calculated the sphere volume:

[tex]V=\frac{4\pi r^{3}}{3}[/tex]

And multiplied both:

[tex]Q=-3.334.10^{-13}[/tex]

It's close, but still not the right solution, what did I do wrong?
 
kacete said:
I got the following result:

[tex]\vec{\nabla}.\vec{D}=\frac{100y}{z^{2}+1}-\frac{400x^{2}y^{2}z}{(z^{2}+1)^{3}}[/tex]

You seem to be missing a term here.

Then I replaced with the coordinates and got:

[tex]\vec{\nabla}.\vec{D}=-79600[/tex]

You replaced with what coordinates, and why?
 
gabbagabbahey said:
You seem to be missing a term here.
No, since it does not contain an y variable, the derivate in order of y is 0.
gabbagabbahey said:
You replaced with what coordinates, and why?

I replaced the variables with the coordinates for the center of the sphere to find the value in that region.
 
kacete said:
No, since it does not contain an y variable, the derivate in order of y is 0.
You are still missing a term:

[tex]\frac{\partial}{\partial z}\left(\frac{100x^2 y z}{(z^2+1)^2}\right)\neq -\frac{400x^{2}y^{2}z}{(z^{2}+1)^{3}}[/tex]
I replaced the variables with the coordinates for the center of the sphere to find the value in that region.

But that only gives you the value of the divergence at the center...the divergence theorem tells you to integrate the divergence over the entire volume of the sphere...which means you need to know its value everywhere in the sphere, not just at the center.
 
[tex]\frac{\partial}{\partial z}\left( - \frac{100x^2 y z}{(z^2+1)^2}\right)=\frac{100(3z^{2}-1)x^{2}y}{(z^{2}+1)^{3}}[/tex]
You're right, I corrected it. (plus i had a typo in my problem, the last one - in direction of z - is negative).

I thought that too. But I don't know how to integrate to the whole sphere using cartesian coordinates.
 
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Then switch to spherical coordinates, centered at [itex]c[/itex]...

[tex](x-5)=r\sin\theta\cos\phi[/tex]
[tex](y-8)=r\sin\theta\sin\phi[/tex]
[tex](z-1)=r\cos\theta[/tex]

...
 
Of course, but I have to switch the divergence calculated before to spherical coordinates too, right?
 
  • #10
Yes, of course...
 
  • #11
Is there no easier way of solving this rather than integrating the following?

[tex] \int^{10^{-6}}_{0} \int^{ \pi }_{0} \int^{2 \pi }_{0} \left( \frac{100(rsin \theta sin \phi +8)}{(rcos \ntheta +1)^{2} +1} - \frac{100(3(rcos \theta +1)^{2}-1)(rsin \theta cos \phi +5)^{2}(r sin \theta sin \phi )^{2}}{((rcos \theta +1)^{2}+1)^{3}}\right) r^{2} sin \theta d \phi d \theta dr[/tex]

I'm having a hard time doing so. Even in my TI-89.
 
  • #12
First, it looks like you have some typos/minor errors in that expression that you'll want to correct.

Second, I don't think you really need an exact solution here... assuming the "1" in your [itex]z^2+1[/itex] terms is [itex]1\text{m}^2[/itex], then [itex]r^2\cos\theta\leq 10^{-12}\text{m}^2[/itex] is going to be very small in comparison and can be neglected...similar arguments can be used for [itex]r\sin\theta\sin\phi+8[/itex] and similar terms, giving you a much easier (approximate) expression to integrate.
 
  • #13
Thank you, I will try that!
 

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