MHB How Does Gauss' Law Apply to Infinite Oppositely Charged Plates?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on proving that the electric field charge of two infinite, oppositely charged plates is zero using Gauss' Law. Participants clarify that the total charge is zero when the plates have equal and opposite charges. The concept of "field charge" is defined as the total charge, and the need to calculate the charge outside the plates is emphasized. Gauss' Law is explained, highlighting that the surface integral of the electric field equals the enclosed charge divided by the permittivity of free space. The conversation concludes with a participant expressing a preference for a simpler approach, avoiding integrals.
Mango12
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I need to prove that the field charge of 2 infinite, oppositely charged plates is 0 using Gauss' law. I know that the sum of E=4PiK(Sum of q) but I don't know how to prove the charge is 0.
 
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Mango12 said:
I need to prove that the field charge of 2 infinite, oppositely charged plates is 0 using Gauss' law. I know that the sum of E=4PiK(Sum of q) but I don't know how to prove the charge is 0.
What is a "field charge?" Generally you only have the total charge being 0 when you have equal and oppositely charged plates, so that will be a given when the problem is posed.

-Dan
 
topsquark said:
What is a "field charge?" Generally you only have the total charge being 0 when you have equal and oppositely charged plates, so that will be a given when the problem is posed.

-Dan

Field charge is the total charge. And I need to find the charge on the outside of the plates. I know it would be 0, so maybe I have to set 2 equations equal to each other and show that they cancel to equal 0?
 
Mango12 said:
I need to prove that the field charge of 2 infinite, oppositely charged plates is 0 using Gauss' law. I know that the sum of E=4PiK(Sum of q) but I don't know how to prove the charge is 0.

Mango12 said:
Field charge is the total charge. And I need to find the charge on the outside of the plates. I know it would be 0, so maybe I have to set 2 equations equal to each other and show that they cancel to equal 0?
Again, the total charge of the two plates is 0 if and only if they both have the same charge on them. This makes no sense. Can you please post the whole question?

Note: In your first post above you mention the E field due to a distribution of charged particles. When dealing with a parallel plate capacitor you are dealing with a continuous charge distribution so that formula cannot be used.

-Dan
 
topsquark said:
Again, the total charge of the two plates is 0 if and only if they both have the same charge on them. This makes no sense. Can you please post the whole question?

Note: In your first post above you mention the E field due to a distribution of charged particles. When dealing with a parallel plate capacitor you are dealing with a continuous charge distribution so that formula cannot be used.

-Dan

"There are 2 infinite plates side by side. One plate has a negative charge and the other has an equal charge, only positive. Using Guass' Law or the superimposition of fields, calculate the charge on the OUTSIDE of the plates"
 
Mango12 said:
I need to prove that the field charge of 2 infinite, oppositely charged plates is 0 using Gauss' law. I know that the sum of E=4PiK(Sum of q) but I don't know how to prove the charge is 0.

What do you mean exactly by Gauss's law?

For a point charge $q$, we have $E=\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0 r^2}$.
More generally, Gauss's law says that the surface integral of $E$ is equal to the enclosed charge $Q$ divided by $\epsilon_0$:
$$\bigcirc\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\iint E\cdot dS = \iiint \frac\rho{\epsilon_0} dV = \frac Q{\epsilon_0}$$

Mango12 said:
"There are 2 infinite plates side by side. One plate has a negative charge and the other has an equal charge, only positive. Using Guass' Law or the superimposition of fields, calculate the charge on the OUTSIDE of the plates"

I may be going on a rampage, but suppose we look at just one plate with charge $Q$ in a cross section of area $A$.
And suppose we define a cylinder with the plate in the middle, a cross section with area $A$, and a distance $d$ to each end of the cylinder.
Then due to symmetry, we have that the surface integral is $2\cdot E \cdot A$.
Gauss's law says that this is equal to $\frac {Q}{\epsilon_0}$.
So:
$$2EA = \frac {Q}{\epsilon_0} \quad\Rightarrow\quad E = \frac{Q}{2\epsilon_0 A}$$

Are you still with me?
Or am I going on a rampage? (Wondering)
 
I like Serena said:
What do you mean exactly by Gauss's law?

For a point charge $q$, we have $E=\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0 r^2}$.
More generally, Gauss's law says that the surface integral of $E$ is equal to the enclosed charge $Q$ divided by $\epsilon_0$:
$$\bigcirc\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\!\iint E\cdot dS = \iiint \frac\rho{\epsilon_0} dV= \frac Q{\epsilon_0}$$
I may be going on a rampage, but suppose we look at just one plate with charge $Q$ in a cross section of area $A$.
And suppose we define a cylinder with the plate in the middle, a cross section with area $A$, and a distance $d$ to each end of the cylinder.
Then due to symmetry, we have that the surface integral is $2\cdot E \cdot A$.
Gauss's law says that this is equal to $\frac {Q}{\epsilon_0}$.
So:
$$2EA = \frac {Q}{\epsilon_0} \quad\Rightarrow\quad E = \frac{Q}{2\epsilon_0 A}$$

Are you still with me?
Or am I going on a rampage? (Wondering)

I kind of get it. I think I figured it out a different way though, because we never use integrals in class so he wouldn't want me to solve it that way outside of class :/
 
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