Understanding Electric Field & Equipotential Surfaces

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding the relationship between electric fields and equipotential surfaces, specifically how to calculate the distance between surfaces that differ by a certain voltage given the electric field strength.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the calculation of distance between equipotential surfaces based on electric field strength and voltage difference. Some express confusion about the underlying concepts and seek clarification on the appropriate formulas to use.

Discussion Status

Several participants have offered their interpretations of the calculations involved, with some questioning the correctness of the initial approach. There is a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the mathematical reasoning, and some participants have provided alternative calculations for verification.

Contextual Notes

Participants note a lack of instruction on this topic from the professor, leading to confusion. There are references to assumptions about uniform electric fields and the need for clarification on unit conversions.

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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