Work to bring a charge to the center of two quarter circles

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the work required to bring a charge to the center of two quarter circles, focusing on the electric field generated by the charge distributions along the arcs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive the work done using electric field calculations and integration, expressing uncertainty about the result being zero. Other participants question the reasoning behind this conclusion and seek clarification on the integral's evaluation.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing diagrams and others discussing the implications of the electric force's direction on the work done. There is a focus on understanding the conditions under which the work is considered zero, though no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of specific charge distributions where ##\lambda_1=-\lambda_2##, which may influence the calculations and assumptions being discussed.

lorenz0
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Homework Statement
Find the electric field at point C, which corresponds to the center of the two arcs of circumference with radius ##𝑅 = 10 cm## with uniform charge densities ##\lambda_1 = + 1nC / m## and ##\lambda_2 = -1 nC / m## respectively.
Also find the work required to bring a charge ##q= 5 \mu C## from infinity to point C.
Relevant Equations
##\vec{E}=\frac{kq}{r^2},\ V(r)=\frac{kq}{r}##
By measuring angle \theta from the positive ##x## axis counterclockwise as usual, I get ##d\vec{E}=k( (\lambda_2-\lambda_1)\cos(\theta)d\theta, (\lambda_2-\lambda_1)\sin(\theta)d\theta )## and by integrating from ##\theta=0## to ##\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}## I get ##\vec{E}(P)=\frac{k(\lambda_1-\lambda_2)}{R}(-1,-1)##.

Now, the work to bring a charge from infinity to point P should be (if we set ##V(\infty)=0##) ##L=qV(P)=q\int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi/2}(\frac{k\lambda_1}{R}+\frac{k\lambda_2}{R})Rd\theta=0##

I am a bit unsure about the work being ##0##, it doesn't feel intuitive to me that it should be: is this correct? Is there an intuitive explanation for the work being ##0##? Thanks
 

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Please post either a diagram or a full description of the arc arrangement.
But just looking at the last line, I do not see how you get zero from that integral.
 
haruspex said:
Please post either a diagram or a full description of the arc arrangement.
But just looking at the last line, I do not see how you get zero from that integral.
I have posted the diagram; I get zero since ##\lambda_1=-\lambda_2##.
 
Last edited:
lorenz0 said:
Is there an intuitive explanation for the work being 0?
If you bring in the charge from infinity over the line ##y = -x##, the electric force is perpendicular to the motion, so no mechanical work is involved.

##\ ##
 
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BvU said:
If you bring in the charge from infinity over the line ##y = -x##, the electric force is perpendicular to the motion, so no mechanical work is involved.

##\ ##
I see, thank you very much!
 

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