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 778: 63

Answer

$4.16\times 10^{-4}\;\rm N$

Work Step by Step

Let's assume that the charge is uniformly distributed along the plastic stirrer. So its linear charge density is then $\lambda_s$, which is different from the linear charge density of the infinite charged wire $\lambda$. We know that the electric field of an infinite line of charge at a distance $x$ from its axis is given by $$E=\dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\dfrac{2\lambda}{x}\;\hat i\tag 1$$ So the small force exerted by this electric field on the small fragment of the stirrer which is at distance $x$, as we see in the figure below, is given by $$dF=Edq\tag 2$$ where $dq$ is given by $$\lambda_1=\dfrac{dq}{dx}=\dfrac{Q_1}{L}$$ Hence, $$dq=\dfrac{Q_1 dx}{L}$$ Plug into (2), and plug $E$ from (1), $$dF=\dfrac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\dfrac{2\lambda}{x}\dfrac{Q_1 dx}{L} $$ $$dF=\dfrac{2Q_1\lambda}{(4\pi \epsilon_0)L} \dfrac{ dx}{x} $$ To find the full force exerted on the whole plastic stirrer, we need to integrate from $x=2$ cm to $x=2+6=8$ cm. $$\int_0^F dF=\dfrac{2Q_1\lambda}{(4\pi \epsilon_0)L} \int_{x=0.02}^{x=0.08}\dfrac{ dx}{x} $$ $$ F=\dfrac{2Q_1\lambda}{(4\pi \epsilon_0)L} \ln x\bigg| _{x=0.02}^{x=0.08} $$ Plug the known; $$ F=\dfrac{2(10\times 10^{-9})(1\times 10^{-7}) (9\times 10^9)}{ 0.06} (\ln 0.08-\ln0.02) $$ $$F=\color{red}{\bf 4.16\times 10^{-4}}\;\rm N$$
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