Understanding Electric Field & Equipotential Surfaces

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the distance between equipotential surfaces given an electric field of 300 volts/meter and a potential difference of 10 volts. Initially, a participant incorrectly concluded that the surfaces are 30 meters apart, but this was clarified to be a misunderstanding of unit cancellation. The correct calculation shows that the distance is actually 0.033 meters when applying the formula for electric fields. Participants emphasized the importance of understanding unit conversions and assumptions in calculations. The thread concludes with acknowledgment of the assistance received in clarifying the problem.
BunDa4Th
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Homework Statement



If the electric field at a point in space has a magnitude of 300 volts/meter, about how far apart are the equipotential surfaces that differ by 10 volts?

well, i think that they are 30 meters apart. All I did was

300 volts/meter/10 volts since that will cancel the volts out i believe and leaving me with 300 meter/10 which give 30 meters.

I don't understand this question since my professor decided to skip this portion of the chapter and expect us to know it.

Any help on understanding would be great.
 
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I think your answer and your intuition are correct. They certainly are for parallel plate capacitors. And I think they probably apply here for this spherical situation as well.
 
I don't think your math is correct. Your answer is really saying 30/meter.
 
300 volts/meter/10 volts since that will cancel the volts out i believe and leaving me with 300 meter/10 which give 30 meters.
Be careful with your units.

EDIT: hage567 beat me to it.
 
I just realize that. Now i have a problem on doing conversion with this. Can any of you guys give me some pointer on how to understand this since I quiet don't understand it.

I know there is this formula E = Kq/r^2 but I am not sure if that is what i have to use to figure this out.

I have also seek my lab TA for help on this and I still haven't even gotten a response and its been like 2 days.
 
Last edited:
Okay, i got some help but can anyone double check this to see if its the correct way,

10 volts/ 300vots/meter = .033 meter
 
BunDa4Th said:
Okay, i got some help but can anyone double check this to see if its the correct way,

10 volts/ 300vots/meter = .033 meter

Yes, that is right (assuming a uniform E field...that assumption is needed to answer the question). It's clear that this is correct since if the potential changes by 300 volts over a distance of 1.00 meter, it must take only 1.00 meter/30 to get a change of 10 volts.
 
Sweet, thanks for checking it.

thanks to everyone who posted here.
 

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