Using Gauss' Law on a Solid Annular Sphere

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves applying Gauss's Law to a solid annular sphere with a point charge at its center and a varying charge density. The task is to find the electric field in three distinct regions defined by the inner and outer radii of the sphere.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of the electric field in the region where the radius is less than the inner radius of the sphere. There is an attempt to apply Gauss's Law, and questions arise about the surface integral and the treatment of the enclosed charge.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the application of Gauss's Law and the surface integral, while others express uncertainty about the notation and the steps involved. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of the charge distribution and the resulting electric field.

Contextual Notes

One participant notes a lack of familiarity with vector calculus, which may affect their understanding of the problem. There is also mention of a specific charge density function that may complicate the analysis.

deathsink
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Homework Statement



Imagine a solid, annular sphere. At the center of the hollow is a point charge +Q. The inner radius of the sphere is r0, and the outer radius is R. Assume the charge density p = p0/r (for r0 < r < R). Calculate using the integral form of Gauss's Law the electric field in all three regions:

0< r < r0
r0< r < R
R < r < infinity

Homework Equations



[PLAIN]http://www.forkosh.dreamhost.com/mimetex.cgi?%5Coint_S%5Cmathbf%7BE%7D%5Ccdot%7Bd%7D%5Cmathbf%7BA%7D=%5Cfrac%7BQ%7D%7B%5Cepsilon_0%7D=%5Cfrac%7B1%7D%7B%5Cepsilon_0%7D%5Cint_V%5Crho(%5Cmathbf%7Br%7D)%5C,dV

The Attempt at a Solution



for 0 < r < r0

E(4 Pi r^2) = 1/e0 (p0/r)(4/3 pi r^3)
=> E = (1/3e0)p0

But this can't be right for because all of the r's cancel out. And since I can't do this one, I know I can't do the rest.

Thank you.
 
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For this first interval, where 0 < r < r0, the enclosed charge is just +Q, the charge at the center of the hollow.
 
gneill said:
For this first interval, where 0 < r < r0, the enclosed charge is just +Q, the charge at the center of the hollow.

When you take the surface integral of E*dA, do you get E*(area of sphere) which you then need to divide through by?

I have not had Vector Calculus, so a lot of the notation is odd to me.

Edit: I got [tex]E=\frac{Q}{4\pi \epsilon _0r_0{}^2}[/tex] by dividing through by the area of a sphere.
 
Last edited:
Your E dot DA in the surface integral turns into E da, because the field is radially directed and so the dot product is just the product of the magnitudes of the vectors E and dA (which is normal to the surface over which you're integrating).

So, at radius r you end up with

E(4 π r2) = Q/ε0

Or, rearranged,

E = Q/(4 π ε0 r2)

Which should look familiar.
 

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