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 28 - The Electric Potential - Exercises and Problems - Page 834: 30

Answer

$0\;\rm V$

Work Step by Step

The perpendicular line to the rod from the given point divides the rod into two equal pieces. As we see from the figure below, we divided the rod into very small segments each, as the black segment, which has a length of $dx$ and a charge of $dq$. Now we can see that $dq$ from the right is negative while $dq$ from the left is positive. Hence, at the same distance $x$ from the center of the rod, the net electric potential must be zero. Remember that the net electric potential is given by $$V=V_++V_-=\dfrac{kdq}{r}+\dfrac{-kdq}{r}$$ where, from the geometry of the figure below, $r$s from both charges are equal in length. $$V=V_++V_-=\dfrac{kdq}{r}+\dfrac{-kdq}{r}=0$$ By integrating, we can see that each $+dq$ neutralizes each $-dq$. Therefore, $$V=\color{red}{\bf 0}\;\rm V$$
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