Plot 3D graph of electric potential of a charged particle

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on plotting the electric potential \( V(r) \) of a positively charged particle using software tools such as Matlab, WolframAlpha, and Mathpix. The formula for electric potential is given as \( V = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{r} \), where \( r \) is the distance from the charge. Users express a need for guidance on deriving this formula and implementing it in 3D plots, particularly using Maple as an alternative to Matlab or Mathematica.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric potential and Coulomb's law
  • Familiarity with 3D coordinate systems
  • Basic knowledge of plotting in software tools like Matlab or Maple
  • Experience with mathematical notation and equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to implement 3D plotting in Maple
  • Research the derivation of the electric potential formula \( V = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{r} \)
  • Explore online resources for 3D plotting in Matlab
  • Investigate the use of WolframAlpha for visualizing electric potential
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics, educators teaching electromagnetism, and anyone interested in visualizing electric fields and potentials using computational tools.

AdrianMachin
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Homework Statement


Plot the electric potential ##V(r)## due to a positively charged particle located at the origin of an XY plane.

Homework Equations


##V=\frac 1 {4πε_0} \frac q r##

The Attempt at a Solution


I'm unfamiliar with 3D coordinates at this time, but I like to know how can I plot it using a computer program like Matlab or online tools like WolframAlpha or Mathpix. I'm looking for the formula that I can plug into a software to see the 3D plot, plus an explanation for how to derive that formula. In the attachment, you can see the plot from my textbook (Fundamentals of Physics), but I don't why it's written ##V(r)## where no axes are named ##r##.
 

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AdrianMachin said:

Homework Statement


Plot the electric potential ##V(r)## due to a positively charged particle located at the origin of an XY plane.

Homework Equations


##V=\frac 1 {4πε_0} \frac q r##

The Attempt at a Solution


I'm unfamiliar with 3D coordinates at this time, but I like to know how can I plot it using a computer program like Matlab or online tools like WolframAlpha or Mathpix. I'm looking for the formula that I can plug into a software to see the 3D plot, plus an explanation for how to derive that formula. In the attachment, you can see the plot from my textbook (Fundamentals of Physics), but I don't why it's written ##V(r)## where no axes are named ##r##.

I don't have access to Matlab or Mathematica (I use Maple instead), but a simple Google search on the keywords '3d plots in MATLAB turns up several articles on the topic.
 

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