Voltage change away from long line of uniform charge

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the voltage change when moving away from a long line of uniform charge density, specifically from 5.0 cm to 10.0 cm. The subject area involves concepts from electrostatics, particularly related to electric fields and potential differences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between electric field and voltage, with one suggesting the use of the electric field expression for an infinite line of charge. There is also an attempt to integrate to find the voltage change, with questions about the correctness of the approach and calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on starting with the electric field expression and integrating to find the voltage. There is acknowledgment of previous errors in calculations, and one participant expresses confidence in their revised result, while another notes the importance of significant figures.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted confusion regarding the charge density value, with one participant clarifying that it should be in microcoulombs per meter rather than coulombs per meter, which impacts the calculations significantly.

Pyuruku
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Homework Statement


Find the voltage change going from 5.0cm to 10.0cm along the radius away from a long line of uniform charge density 5.0 μC/m


Homework Equations



V = (kq) / r (I believe... I'm very lost)



The Attempt at a Solution



ΔV = ∫.05 to .1 2∏rLdL = 2∏r((L^2) / 2 | from .05 to .1) = 2∏r ( .1^2 / 2 - .05^2 / 2) = 0.0235r

Obviously I'm doing this wrong... I'm struggling with the topic of electricity so I apologize if this is too elementary...
 
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Pyuruku said:

Homework Statement


Find the voltage change going from 5.0cm to 10.0cm along the radius away from a long line of uniform charge density 5.0 μC/m


Homework Equations



V = (kq) / r (I believe... I'm very lost)



The Attempt at a Solution



ΔV = ∫.05 to .1 2∏rLdL = 2∏r((L^2) / 2 | from .05 to .1) = 2∏r ( .1^2 / 2 - .05^2 / 2) = 0.0235r

Obviously I'm doing this wrong... I'm struggling with the topic of electricity so I apologize if this is too elementary...

Hi Pyuruku, Welcome to Physics Forums.

Why not start with the expression for the electric field strength at a distance r from an infinite line of charge? Then integrate along the path between the two radial distances.
 
Would that be [itex]E = \frac{\lambda}{2\pi r\epsilon}[/itex]?

If so...

[itex]\frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon}\int_{0.05}^{0.1} \! \frac{dr}{r} = \frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon} ( ln(r) \bigr|_{0.05}^{0.1}) = \frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon}ln(\frac{0.1}{0.05}) = \frac{5.0}{2\pi(8.85x10^{-12}}ln(\frac{0.1}{0.05}) = 6.23x10^{10}[/itex]

Does that seem correct? I can't check the answer for myself (practice worksheet)
 
Pyuruku said:
Would that be [itex]E = \frac{\lambda}{2\pi r\epsilon}[/itex]?

If so...

[itex]\frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon}\int_{0.05}^{0.1} \! \frac{dr}{r} = \frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon} ( ln(r) \bigr|_{0.05}^{0.1}) = \frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon}ln(\frac{0.1}{0.05}) = \frac{5.0}{2\pi(8.85x10^{-12}}ln(\frac{0.1}{0.05}) = 6.23x10^{10}[/itex]

Does that seem correct? I can't check the answer for myself (practice worksheet)

Fine, except that the charge density is not 5 coulombs per meter, it's 5 microcoulombs per meter. So your result is off by only six orders of magnitude :smile:
 
[itex]\frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon}\int_{0.05}^{0.1} \! \frac{dr}{r} = \frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon} ( ln(r) \bigr|_{0.05}^{0.1}) = \frac{\lambda}{2\pi\epsilon}ln(\frac{0.1}{0.05}) = \frac{5.0x10^{-6}}{2\pi(8.85x10^{-12})}ln(\frac{0.1}{0.05}) = 6.232 x 10^{4} V[/itex]

(I believe this is now correct)
 
Yup, looks okay now. Be sure to make your final result match the given data in terms of significant figures.
 

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