How can I find the electric field above an infinite sheet?

Once you have found it, you can use it to calculate the electric field at the given point, which is approximately 2.3 * 10^6 N/C. In summary, to find the electric field at a point above a square insulating sheet with 7.40nC of charge, you will need to use the formulas \Phi = 2EA and E = \sigma / 2\epsilon, where \epsilon represents the dielectric constant of vacuum, which is approximately 8.85 * 10^-12 C^2/Nm^2. Plugging in the known values, the electric field is approximately 2.3 * 10^6 N/C.
  • #1
hockey
4
0

Homework Statement


A square insulating sheet 75.0cm on a side is held horizontally. The sheet has 7.40nC of charge spread uniformly over its area. Calculate the electric field at a point 0.240mm above the center of the sheet.

Homework Equations



[itex]\Phi[/itex] = 2EA
E = [itex]\sigma[/itex] / 2[itex]\epsilon[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution


With the formulas above I managed to find that [itex]\sigma[/itex] = 1.316 * 10^-8, but I do not know that [itex]\epsilon[/itex] represents or how to find it. I cannot find the electric field until epsilon has been found.
 
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  • #2
hockey said:

Homework Statement


A square insulating sheet 75.0cm on a side is held horizontally. The sheet has 7.40nC of charge spread uniformly over its area. Calculate the electric field at a point 0.240mm above the center of the sheet.

Homework Equations



[itex]\Phi[/itex] = 2EA
E = [itex]\sigma[/itex] / 2[itex]\epsilon[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution


With the formulas above I managed to find that [itex]\sigma[/itex] = 1.316 * 10^-8, but I do not know that [itex]\epsilon[/itex] represents or how to find it. I cannot find the electric field until epsilon has been found.

[itex] \epsilon [/itex] is the dielectric constant of vacuum (usually written as ## \epsilon_0 ## ). It is a constant that you can look up.
 

1. How is the electric field above an infinite sheet calculated?

The electric field above an infinite sheet can be calculated using the formula E = σ/2ε0, where σ is the surface charge density and ε0 is the permittivity of free space.

2. What is the direction of the electric field above an infinite sheet?

The direction of the electric field above an infinite sheet is perpendicular to the surface of the sheet, pointing away from the sheet for a positive charge density and towards the sheet for a negative charge density.

3. Can the electric field above an infinite sheet ever be zero?

Yes, the electric field above an infinite sheet can be zero if the surface charge density is zero or if the distance from the sheet is infinity.

4. How does the electric field above an infinite sheet change as you move away from the sheet?

The electric field above an infinite sheet decreases in magnitude as you move away from the sheet. This follows an inverse relationship with distance, meaning that the farther away you are from the sheet, the weaker the electric field will be.

5. Can the electric field above an infinite sheet be affected by other nearby charges?

Yes, the electric field above an infinite sheet can be affected by other nearby charges. This is because the electric field is a vector quantity and can be influenced by the presence of other electric charges in its surroundings.

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