Volume charge density w/o surface charge density

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 2K views
vikasagartha
Messages
15
Reaction score
0
Im confused by a concept i have run across in Griffiths electrodynamics.

[itex]E_{out} - E_{in} = \frac{\sigma_{free}}{\epsilon_0}[/itex]

However, in the case of a uniform, circular charge density,
[itex]\vec{E_{in}} = \frac{\rho r}{3\epsilon_0}\hat{r}[/itex]
[itex]\vec{E_{out}} = \frac{\rho R^3}{3\epsilon_0 r^2}\hat{r}[/itex]

But this electric field is continuous @ r=R. If a volume has a charge density, doesn't it have to have some sort of a surface charge? How can there be no surface charge?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Silly question. Realized my mistake. Sorry. I forgot that the normal to the electric field is in opposite directions when drawing a 'pillbox.' So sorry.

Answered my own question.
 
Last edited: