Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 26 - The Electric Field - Exercises and Problems - Page 777: 42

Answer

See the detailed answer below.

Work Step by Step

We know that the electric field of a thin charged ring, at some point of distance $x$ from its axis, is given by $$E_x=\dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{xQ}{(x^2+R^2)^{3/2}}$$ where $R$ is the radius of the ring, see the figure below. If the axis of the ring lies on $z$-direction, so $$E_z=\dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{zQ}{(z^2+R^2)^{3/2}}$$ $\bullet\Rightarrow$ when $z\gt \gt R$, the term of $(z^2+R^2)^{3/2}$ approaches $z^3$, and here is why $z^3\bigg(1+\dfrac{R^2}{z^2}\bigg)^{3/2}\approx z^3\bigg(1+0\bigg)^{3/2}=z^3$ Thus, the electric field is then, $$E_z=\dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{zQ}{z^3}$$ $$\boxed{E_z=\dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{ Q}{z^2}}$$ This is similar to the electric field of a point charge, which is reasonable since at a long distance of $z$, the ring appears as a point charge. $\bullet\Rightarrow$ when $z\lt \lt R$, this means that we are measuring the electric field at a point that is so close to the center of the ring at which the net electric field approaches zero. The term of $(z^2+R^2)^{3/2}$ approaches $R^3$, and here is why $R^3\bigg( \dfrac{z^2}{R^2}+1\bigg)^{3/2}\approx R^3\bigg(0+1\bigg)^{3/2}=R^3$ Hence $$E_z=\dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{zQ}{R^3}$$ where $z/R^3\approx0 $, since $z\lt \lt R$ $$\boxed{E_z=\bf 0\;\rm N/C}$$
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