What is the Potential Difference in a Non-Uniform Electric Field?

  • #1
PhysicsInNJ
44
1

Homework Statement


The electric field in a region of space has the components Ey = Ez = 0 and Ex = (4.00 N/C·m) x. Point A is on the y axis at y = 3.60 m, and Point B is on thex axis at x = 3.00 m. What is the potential difference VBVA?

Homework Equations


Vb- Vi = -∫ba E * dS

The Attempt at a Solution


The integral should become E*d, or 4*0.6 , but that is incorrect
The correct answer is -18V
 
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  • #2
PhysicsInNJ said:

The Attempt at a Solution


The integral should become E*d, or 4*0.6 , but that is incorrect
The correct answer is -18V
Where does the 0.6 come from? Note that the two points are on different axes.
 
  • #3
What's a good choice of path integration? Does the datum y = 3.6, as opposed to some other y number, have any significance?
 
  • #4
PhysicsInNJ said:
The integral should become E*d
In addition to what the others said, ##\Delta V = Ed## only holds for uniform fields. You don't have a uniform field in this problem.
 
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