The potential at points around a cone

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Identity
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Homework Statement



"A conical surface (an empty ice-cream cone) carries a uniform surface charge [tex]\sigma[/tex]. The height of the cone is h, as is the radius of the top. Find the potential at the centre of the top, taking infinity as reference point." - Griffiths

My result for the potential differs from the answer's. Can someone please check my solution

Homework Equations



[tex]V = \iint_S \frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\frac{\sigma}{x} dS[/tex], where [tex]x[/tex] is the distance from the source to the point.

The Attempt at a Solution



My diagram is in the attached picture.

First off, I used cylindrical coordinates with the equation z = r, z > 0 to graph the cone
I found [tex]dS = \sqrt{2}zdA[/tex]

The distance from any point on the cone to the origin is [tex]\sqrt{2} z[/tex], so using the cosine law,
[tex]x = \sqrt{2z^2-2hz+h^2}[/tex]

So we have

[tex]V = \int_0^h\int_0^{2\pi} \frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0} \frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{2z^2-2hz+h^2}} \sqrt{2}z d\theta dz=\frac{\sigma h}{4\epsilon}\ln(2\sqrt{2}+3)[/tex]


Answer: [tex]V = \frac{\sigma h}{2\epsilon}\ln(1+\sqrt{2})[/tex]


thanks!
 

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Identity said:
[tex]V = \int_0^h\int_0^{2\pi} \frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0} \frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{2z^2-2hz+h^2}} \sqrt{2}z d\theta dz=\frac{\sigma h}{4\epsilon}\ln(2\sqrt{2}+3)[/tex]


Answer: [tex]V = \frac{\sigma h}{2\epsilon}\ln(1+\sqrt{2})[/tex]

Hi Identity! :smile:

erm :redface: … 2ln(1 + √2) = ln(3 + 2√2) :wink:
 
:eek: oh my!
thankyou tiny-tim