Integral Over all Space for Charge Density - Exponential Fun

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on finding the charge density from the electric field described by E = C e^{-br}/r^2 and integrating it over all space to demonstrate that the result is zero. Initial attempts to derive the charge density using the divergence of the electric field led to an incorrect integration result. A correction was made by switching to spherical coordinates, which clarified the calculation of charge density. Ultimately, using the delta function in the integration confirmed that the total charge density over all space is indeed zero. The thread highlights the importance of coordinate systems in vector calculus when solving such problems.
KleZMeR
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Homework Statement



The electric field is described by E = \frac{C e^{-br}}{r^2},
find the charge density and then integrate over all-space and show it's zero.
[/B]

Homework Equations



E = \frac{C e^{-br}}{r^2} \\ \\
\nabla \cdot E = \frac{\rho}{\epsilon_0} \\ \\
\rho(r) = Q \delta^3 (r-r_0) \\ \\[/B]
I_{AllSpace} = \int_{0}^{\infty}\:f(r,\phi,\theta) \: r^2 \: dr \: sin\theta \: d\theta \: d\phi \\ \\
\nabla = \frac{d}{dr} \hat{r} \\ \\
\int_{0}^{\infty}f(r)Q \delta^3(r-r_0)dr = f(r_0) \\ \\

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried to take \nabla E = \frac{\rho}{\epsilon_0} and used the quotient solve for \rho(r) and then integrated over all space and I do not get a zero.

With \nabla \cdot E = (\frac{-e^{-ar}}{r} \:(ra+2))
\rho(r) = (\frac{-e^{-ar}}{r} \:(ra+2)) \: \epsilon_0

and integrating over all space gives me

4\pi \int_{0}^{\infty}\rho(r) \: r^2 \: dr

and this gives me (-1 + undefined) \: \epsilon_0

my only other idea here is to use the delta function, which in the case of the radial integral does give me a zero due to the r^2 term being evaluated at zero.

E_{AllSpace} = 4\pi \int_{0}^{\infty}\rho(r) \: r^2 \: dr = 4\pi Q \int_{0}^{\infty} \delta^3(r-r_0)r^2 \:dr = 0

This second solution seems a bit short but I think it is still valid, I'm not sure if my first attempt if I made a mistake on the integral or if there is some other way of doing this? Any help would be appreciated.
 
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KleZMeR said:
The electric field is described by E = \frac{C e^{-br}}{r^2},
find the charge density and then integrate over all-space and show it's zero.
What's the direction of the electric field vector? You stated it as if it's a scalar.
 
Ahh yes, it is in the \hat{r} direction.
 
OK, so I found an issue and corrected for it, I was using \nabla in cartesian coordinates, and it should have been in spherical.

My result after using spherical component for r from \nabla, I get

\rho(r)_{AllSpace} = 4\pi \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{-bA}{\epsilon_0 } e^{-br} = A

but I noticed that if I still use the delta function I get the desired answer of zero, but I think it is Q that I am trying to find? Any help is appreciated.
 
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