Electric Field of Point Charge: Arbitrary Motion

In summary, the conversation discusses a point charge with constant acceleration in the +x direction and the computation of E{x} at points on the y-axis. This produces negative values that approach negative infinity as y approaches zero, suggesting an infinite self-force on the charge and the driving agent in the –x direction. The suggestion is to refer to the "Electric field of point charge, arbitrary motion" in Griffiths' "Introduction to Electrodynamics" for more information and to access a program that computes Ex.
  • #1
GRDixon
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Given: a point charge (at rest at the Origin at time t=0) with a constant acceleration in the +x direction. Computation of [tex]E{x}[/tex] at points on the y-axis produces negative values that approach negative infinity as y approaches zero. Extrapolation to y=0 suggests an infinite self-force on the charge (and hence on the driving agent) in the –x direction. Comments? (Suggestion: Index “Electric field of point charge, arbitrary motion” in Griffiths, “Introduction to Electrodynamics”.)
 
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  • #2
GRDixon said:
(Suggestion: Index “Electric field of point charge, arbitrary motion” in Griffiths, “Introduction to Electrodynamics”.)

Also, for a program that computes Ex, click on "Accelerated Charges and Associated Reaction Forces" at the top of www.maxwellsociety.net. The program is the first of two in the article's appendix.
 

What is an electric field?

An electric field is a physical quantity that describes the strength and direction of the force that a charged particle experiences due to the presence of other charged particles. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

How is the electric field of a point charge calculated?

The electric field of a point charge is calculated using Coulomb's Law, which states that the force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The formula for calculating the electric field is E = kQ/r², where E is the electric field, k is the Coulomb's constant, Q is the charge of the point charge, and r is the distance from the point charge.

How does the electric field change with the motion of a point charge?

The electric field of a point charge remains constant regardless of the motion of the charge. This is because the electric field is a property of the charge itself, not its motion. However, the force experienced by other charged particles in the field may change if the point charge is in motion, as the distance between the charges may change.

What is the direction of the electric field of a point charge?

The direction of the electric field is always radially outward from a positive point charge and radially inward towards a negative point charge. This means that the electric field lines always point away from positive charges and towards negative charges.

Can the electric field of a point charge be shielded?

Yes, the electric field of a point charge can be shielded by surrounding it with a conductor. The electrons in the conductor will rearrange themselves in such a way that the electric field inside the conductor is zero, effectively shielding the point charge. This is the principle behind Faraday cages, which are used to shield sensitive electronic equipment from external electric fields.

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