How Do You Calculate the Electric Potential Due to a Non-Uniformly Charged Rod?

[thenewbosco]

A rod of length L lies along the x-axis with the left end at the origin. It has non-uniform charge density given by \lambda = \alpha x. where \alpha is a positive constant. Calculate the potential at a position A, which is a distance d to the left of the origin.

Here is what i did:

we have dV = \frac{k_e dq}{r}

then i made use of the \lambda = \alpha x

and we have V=\int\frac{k_e\lambda dx}{x} = \int\frac{k_e\alpha x dx}{x} = k_e\alpha (d+L-d) where my limits of integration were L to d+L in the second integral

however the answer provided says that V=k_e\alpha (L-d ln(1 + \frac{L}{d}).

where did i go wrong?

thanks

 

[Astronuc]

V=\int\frac{k_e\lambda dx}{x} = \int\frac{k_e\alpha x dr}{r}

then determine the relationship between r and x, i.e. r = r(x), which will also determine the relationship between dr and dx.

x is the distance along the rod, r is the separation between the incremental charge dq and the point at which the potential is being measured.

 

[thenewbosco]

so i should put r = d + x?

 

[Astronuc]

Given: A rod of length L lies along the x-axis with the left end at the origin.

Calculate the potential at a position A, which is a distance d to the left of the origin.

Perhaps one can draw a diagram.

x [0,L]
d to left of origin
r [d,L+d] = d+x

so what is dr if 'd' is constant?

 

[thenewbosco]

if d is constant dr is just d+x, this is correct right? and i have a diagram that came with the question but i still don't see what to put into the integral or how...

 

[thenewbosco]

ok i got it it was really simple actually.

 

[Tide]

Incidentally, it's not the "potential due to a rod." It's the electrical potential due to electrical charge that happens to reside on a rod.