Semicircular charged wire question

In summary, the question involves calculating the force on a test charge at the center of a semicircular wire with a given charge density. The attempt at a solution involves using the charge density and the length of the wire segment to calculate the charge of the wire chunk. However, the solution manual uses an additional R in the calculation, which may be due to the length of the wire segment being R*dθ, not just dθ.
  • #1
mrtubby
3
0

Homework Statement



Charged Wire laid out in a semicircle, test charge at the center of the "Circle"
what is the charge of dQ. This isn't my whole question but is the bit of it that I can't understand the actual question asks you to go the whole nine yards with calculating the force on the test charge

24eddn7.jpg


The Attempt at a Solution



Charge density: [tex] \frac{total charge}{length of tiny wire piece}=\frac{Q}{\frac{2\pi R}{2}} = \frac{Q}{\pi R} [/tex]

so charge of wire chunk = [itex] \frac{Q}{\pi R} * d\theta [/itex]

when my solution manual uses the charge of the wire chunk it uses [itex] \frac{Q}{\pi R} * d\theta * R [/itex]

I can't figure out why, any hints?
 
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  • #2
The charge density is charge per unit length. The length of that wire segment is R*dθ, not just dθ.
 

1. What is a semicircular charged wire?

A semicircular charged wire is a conductive wire that is bent into a semicircle shape and has an electric charge distributed along its length.

2. How is the electric field calculated for a semicircular charged wire?

The electric field at a point near a semicircular charged wire is calculated using the equation E = k * Q * r / (r^2 + a^2)^(3/2), where k is the Coulomb's constant, Q is the charge on the wire, r is the distance from the wire to the point, and a is the radius of the wire.

3. What is the direction of the electric field for a semicircular charged wire?

The electric field for a semicircular charged wire points radially outward from the wire, with the direction determined by the direction of the wire's curvature.

4. How does the electric field change with distance from a semicircular charged wire?

The electric field decreases as the distance from the semicircular charged wire increases. This is because the electric field is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the wire.

5. What is the significance of a semicircular charged wire in physics?

Semicircular charged wires are often used as a model system in physics to study the behavior of electric fields and their effects. They can also be used to understand the principles of electromagnetism and the behavior of charged particles in electric fields.

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