University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 23 - Electric Potential - Problems - Exercises - Page 782: 23.68

Answer

$V = \dfrac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}} \dfrac{Q}{a}$

Work Step by Step

The potential across the arc for a segment is given by \begin{equation} d V=\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}} \frac{d q}{r} \end{equation} Where $dq$ is very small to be a line. So, it is equal to $$\lambda d l = \dfrac{Q}{0.5 (2 \pi a)} = \dfrac{Q}{ \pi a}$$. The term $0.5 (2 \pi a)$ is the circumference of the semicircle. Also, $dl = a d\theta$. Now we integrate over this segment to get the potential over the arc to get the potential $$V=\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}} \int_{0}^{\pi} \frac{Q d \theta}{\pi a}=\boxed{\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}} \frac{Q}{a}}$$
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