/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 29 An insulated sphere of radius \(... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

An insulated sphere of radius \(R\) has charge density \(\rho .\) The electric field at a distance \(r\) from the centre of the sphere \((r

Short Answer

Expert verified
The electric field is \( \frac{\rho r}{3 \varepsilon_{0}} \), which corresponds to option (a).

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Problem

We have a sphere with radius \( R \) and a uniform charge density \( \rho \). We need to find the electric field inside the sphere at a distance \( r < R \) from the center.
02

Apply Gauss's Law

Gauss's Law relates the electric field to the charge enclosed by a Gaussian surface. The formula is \( \Phi = \int \mathbf{E} \cdot d\mathbf{A} = \frac{Q_{\text{enc}}}{\varepsilon_{0}} \), where \( Q_{\text{enc}} \) is the charge enclosed.
03

Calculate the Enclosed Charge

For a sphere of radius \( r \), the charge enclosed is given by \( Q_{\text{enc}} = \rho \times \text{volume of sphere of radius } r \). The volume is \( \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 \), so \( Q_{\text{enc}} = \rho \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 \).
04

Calculate the Electric Field

The electric field \( \mathbf{E} \) is uniform over the surface of the Gaussian sphere, so \( \Phi = E \cdot 4 \pi r^2 = \frac{\rho \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3}{\varepsilon_{0}} \). Solve for \( E \): \( E = \frac{\rho r}{3 \varepsilon_{0}} \).
05

Match with Given Options

Compare the derived expression \( E = \frac{\rho r}{3 \varepsilon_{0}} \) with the given options. The correct answer is option (a).

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Gauss's Law
Gauss's Law is a powerful tool for calculating electric fields. It connects the electric field with the charge enclosed within a closed surface. The law states:
\[ \Phi = \oint \mathbf{E} \cdot d\mathbf{A} = \frac{Q_{\text{enc}}}{\varepsilon_{0}} \]
This formula means that the total electric flux (\( \Phi \)) through a closed surface is equal to the total charge enclosed (\( Q_{\text{enc}} \)) divided by the permittivity of free space (\( \varepsilon_{0} \)).
- Electric flux \( \Phi \) is the sum of all the perpendicular components of the electric field crossing a particular surface.- The integral \( \oint \mathbf{E} \cdot d\mathbf{A} \) implies you sum over the entire surface.
By using Gauss's Law, you can readily determine the electric field due to symmetrical charge distributions. This is highly beneficial because it simplifies complex electric field calculations.
Charge Density
Charge density \( \rho \) is an expression of the amount of charge per unit volume. In the context of a sphere with radius \( R \), a uniform charge density implies the same charge per unit volume throughout the sphere.
Understanding charge density is crucial for solving electric field problems. It helps to:
  • Calculate the total charge in a given volume by multiplying the density by the volume.
  • Understand the distribution of charge which affects the electric field.
In our problem, charge density \( \rho \) aids in calculating the enclosed charge within a sphere of a smaller radius \( r \) by considering only the portion of volume up to that radius.
Uniform Electric Field
A uniform electric field implies that the electric field strength is the same at every point on a specific surface. When evaluating the electric field inside a sphere using Gauss's Law, it is assumed that the electric field is uniform over the Gaussian surface, which is a smaller sphere centered at the center of the original sphere.
The uniformity simplifies calculations by reducing variables:
  • The magnitude of the electric field remains constant over the entire Gaussian surface.
  • It allows us to extract \( E \) from the flux integral as it doesn't vary with position.
This assumption of uniformity is justified by symmetry in problems involving symmetrical charge distributions, like those within spheres.
Calculation of Enclosed Charge
To find the electric field inside a sphere, it's essential to calculate the charge enclosed within a Gaussian surface.
For a radius \( r \) sphere inside our larger sphere:
  • Determine the volume of this smaller sphere: \( \text{Volume} = \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 \).
  • Calculate the enclosed charge: \( Q_{\text{enc}} = \rho \times \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 \).
The enclosed charge \( Q_{\text{enc}} \) allows us to use Gauss's Law and solve for the electric field \( E \):- Integrate the electric flux and relate it to \( \frac{Q_{\text{enc}}}{\varepsilon_{0}} \).- Ultimately, derive \( E = \frac{\rho r}{3 \varepsilon_{0}} \), revealing how charge distribution affects the electric field within the sphere.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A charged body has an electric flux \(\phi\) associated with it. The body is now placed inside a metallic container. The electric flux, \(\phi_{1}\) associated with the container will be (a) \(\phi_{1}=0\) (b) \(0<\phi_{1}<\phi\) (c) \(\phi_{1}=\phi\) (d) \(\phi_{1} \geq \phi\)

Equal charges \(q\) each are placed at the vertices \(A\) and \(B\) of an equilateral triangle \(A B C\) of side \(a\). The magnitude of electric field intensity at the point \(C\) is (a) \(\frac{q}{4 \pi \varepsilon_{0} a^{2}}\) (b) \(\frac{\sqrt{2 q}}{4 \pi \varepsilon_{0} a^{2}}\) (c) \(\frac{q \sqrt{3}}{4 \pi \varepsilon_{0} a^{2}}\) (d) \(\frac{2 q}{4 \pi \varepsilon_{0} a^{2}}\)

Six charges, three positive and three negative of equal magnitude are to be placed at the vertices of a regular hexagon such that the electric field at \(O\) is double the electric field when only one positive charge of same magnitude is placed at \(R\). Which of the following arrangements of charges is possible for \(P, Q\), \(R, S, T\) and \(U\), respectively? (a) \(+,-,+,-,-,+\) (b) \(+,-,+-,+\) (c) \(+,+,-,+,-\), (d) \(-,+,+,-,+,-\)

A semi circular arc of radius \(a\) in charged uniformly and the charge per unit length is \(\lambda .\) The electric field at the centre is (a) \(\frac{\lambda^{2}}{2 \pi \varepsilon_{0} a}\) (b) \(\frac{\lambda}{2 \pi \varepsilon_{0} a}\) (c) \(\frac{\lambda}{2 \pi \varepsilon_{0} a^{2}}\) (d) \(\frac{\lambda}{4 \varepsilon_{0} a}\)

Two identical charged spheres suspended from a common point by two massless strings of length \(l\) are initially a distance \(d(d \ll l)\) apart because of their mutual repulsion. The charge begins to leak from both the spheres at a constant rate. As a result charges approach each other with a velocity, \(v\). Then as a function of distance \(x\) between them, [AIEEE 2011] (a) \(v \propto x^{-1}\) (b) \(v \propto x^{1 / 2}\) (c) \(v \propto \underline{x}\) (d) \(v \propto \underline{x}^{-1 / 2}\)

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.