Physics 2420 In-Class Problems:
Electric Potential from Charge Distributions

1. A rod is bent into a semi-circular arc of radius R. The rod has a uniform linear charge distribution λ. Find the potential at a distance y below the centre of the arc. Find the component of the electric field in the y direction.

   

2. Find the potential at the side of a circular plate a distance a from the its centre. The plate has a uniform charge distribution s . Determine the electric field along a.

   

3. A hollow sphere of radius R has a surface charge s . Find the electric potential at a point along the z axis outside the sphere. Find the electric potential at a point along the z axis inside the sphere. Find the electric field.

4. A hollow half cylinder is shown below has surface charge s . The cylinder has height L and radius R. The back of the hollow cylinder is a flat rectangle. Derive the integrals necessary to find the electric potential outside the cylinder on the y axis a distance d from the back of the half cylinder. There is no need to solve the integrals.

   

5. The solid half-cylinder shown above has charge density r . It has height L and radius R. Derive the integrals necessary to find the electric potential at a point outside the cylinder on the y axis. There is no need to solve the integral.

6. The following diagram shows the electric field due to a radially symmetric charge distribution. Deduce the charge distribution.

   

7. The following diagram shows the electric field due to a spherical charge distribution. Deduce the charge distribution.

   

8. The following diagram shows the electric potential due to a radially symmetric charge distribution. If there is a volume charge in any region, the charge density r is constant. Deduce the charge distribution.

   

Questions? mike.coombes@kwantlen.ca