Proving limits of electric fields on infinite planes

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving limits of electric fields on infinite planes, focusing on the mathematical treatment of terms in the context of electric field calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the need to expand terms to first order in their calculations, particularly when dealing with values close to a specific point, such as x approximating L/2. There is a focus on the implications of setting certain terms to zero and the necessity of considering the relationship between d and L.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on expanding terms to first order and questioning the assumptions made in the original calculations. There appears to be an ongoing exploration of the mathematical expressions involved, with no explicit consensus reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are discussing the implications of approximations in their calculations, particularly in relation to the conditions where d is much less than L. There is a recognition that the original poster's approach may not fully account for the nuances of the problem setup.

Cactus
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Homework Statement
Hey
So I've got this question here to work on, and I've so far managed to solve the first part (a) (Proving that at the center the field is equivalent to an infinite plane however this next part of the question has stumped me as I cannot figure out how they solved to the factor they've provided.
I realise that the factor is a division of answer a and b (So E(field) at x = L/2 divided by E(field) at x = 0) and thats where the 1/pi comes from, as the n/2e in both cases (formula for efield of a plane of charge) will cancel to just 1/pi, however I'm not sure how they get the rest of the formula in part b
Attached below is the current working I've done but I can't see a connection from there
Relevant Equations
Algebra
1566620828199.png

1566620839846.png
rt a)
 
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did you try expanding things to first order one of your terms in your calculation you set it to zero
##
x \approx \frac{L}{2}
##
not exactly equal to it
and ##
d<<L
##
so you need to expand to first order this
##
\frac{L}{2d} \frac{L-2x}{\sqrt{L^2+{(L-2x)}^2}}
##
and
##
tan^{-1}(\frac{L}{2d} \frac{L+2x}{\sqrt{L^2+{(L+2x)}^2}})
##
 
timetraveller123 said:
did you try expanding things to first order one of your terms in your calculation you set it to zero
##
x \approx \frac{L}{2}
##
not exactly equal to it
and ##
d<<L
##
so you need to expand to first order this
##
\frac{L}{2d} \frac{L-2x}{\sqrt{L^2+{(L-2x)}^2}}
##
and
##
tan^{-1}(\frac{L}{2d} \frac{L+2x}{\sqrt{L^2+{(L+2x)}^2}})
##

I'm not exactly sure what you mean in saying that?
 
i am saying that the S is not just
##
\frac{E_{plate}(\frac{L}{2})}{E_{plate}(0)}
## which is what you tried to do
because x is not## \frac{L}{2}## but very close to it but not exactly it
so you expand the terms to first order
 

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