Need suggestion on an MIT OCW material

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a participant's confusion regarding the upper limit of integration over "r" in the MIT OpenCourseWare material on electric fields, specifically seeking clarification on why it is set to infinity. The scope includes conceptual understanding of integration in the context of charge distribution.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in understanding the integration limit over "r" in the MIT material and requests assistance.
  • Another participant suggests that the confusion may stem from referencing the wrong page, proposing that the relevant page might be page 63, where the total charge is calculated by integrating over an infinite charge distribution.
  • A third participant identifies a formatting error in the original link provided, which may have contributed to the confusion.
  • Further, a participant acknowledges the correction of the link and expresses gratitude.
  • Another participant comments on the appropriateness of the thread's section, indicating it may have been misplaced.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the original question regarding the integration limit, as the discussion primarily focuses on clarifying the link issue and the potential misreference to the page number. Multiple viewpoints regarding the correct page and the nature of the integration remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights a potential misunderstanding due to a broken link and incorrect page reference, which may limit the clarity of the original question. There is also an indication that the thread may not have been posted in the appropriate section of the forum.

kamaljit
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Hi i would be glad if someone can help me on this.
I am having a bit of trouble in understanding why the upper limit of integration over "r" is infinity in the MIT open course material on Electric field page #16 by Prof Markus Zahn (material attached as a link to the pdf). Please help.

Thanks in advance.
Link to MIT oc material:
http://ocw.mit.edu/resources/res-6-002-electromagnetic-field-theory-a-probl%20em-solving-approach-spring-2008/textbook-contents/chapter2.pdf
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Almost impossible to know what you mean when the link doesn't work and page 16 doesn't have any integral in it at all.

I'm guessing you perhaps meant page page 63 where he integrate to get the total charge? In that case the charge distribution extends to infinity (in all directions) so to get the total charge you need to integrate over the entire volume (i.e. infinity).

I also suspect your thread is posted in the wrong section.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: kamaljit
Thank you for your quick reply and sorry that 1. the link isn't working (i copied the link correctly but somehow it is not working) and 2. about posting in the wrong section...
 
You got a space in "pro blem" in your link. This should be the correct one
http://ocw.mit.edu/resources/res-6-002-electromagnetic-field-theory-a-problem-solving-approach-spring-2008/textbook-contents/chapter2.pdf
I didn't spot it either at first but I found the course on ocw site.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: kamaljit
thank you for this correction.
 
Incand said:
I also suspect your thread is posted in the wrong section.

I've moved it. Cheers!
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: kamaljit

Similar threads

Two networks described by v-i graph: Find voltages when interconnected
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Thermodynamics question (Adiabatic expansion)
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
7K
Suggestion for a good book on Riemann Surfaces - your personal experiences
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
7K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 266)
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K