Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 24 - Electric Potential - Problems - Page 715: 82c

Answer

The electric field just outside the Earth's surface would point radially inward.

Work Step by Step

We can find the surface area of the Earth: $Area = 4\pi~R^2$ $Area = (4\pi)~(6.37\times 10^6~m)^2$ $Area = 5.10\times 10^{14}~m^2$ We can find the total charge of this number of electrons: $Q = (-1.6\times 10^{-19}~C)(5.10\times 10^{14})$ $Q = -8.16\times 10^{-5}~C$ An electric field points toward a negative charge. Since the charge on the Earth's surface is negative, the electric field just outside the Earth's surface would point radially inward.
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