184_notes:dist_charges

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184_notes:dist_charges [2019/01/04 00:56] – dmcpadden184_notes:dist_charges [2021/02/13 19:26] (current) – [Insulating Cylinder of Charge] bartonmo
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-[[184_notes:patterns_fields|Next Page: Patterns in Fields]]+/*[[184_notes:patterns_fields|Next Page: Patterns in Fields]]
  
-[[184_notes:linecharge|Previous Page: Line of Charge]]+[[184_notes:linecharge|Previous Page: Line of Charge]]*/
  
 ===== Distributions of Charges ===== ===== Distributions of Charges =====
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 In the [[184_notes:charge_and_matter|first week of notes]], we talked about what it means for an object to be an insulator or conductor. When we make //__a point charge assumption__//, these properties don't matter because all of the charge is assumed to be at a single location (whether or not the object is a conductor or an insulator).  However, when talking about shapes and distributions of charge, whether the object is an insulator or conductor can significantly change what the electric field looks like. We'll start by considering the electric field for a conducting sphere (remember that a [[184_notes:charge_and_matter#Types_of_Materials|conductor is a material where the excess charges are free to move]]) and then consider an insulating sphere ([[184_notes:charge_and_matter#Types_of_Materials|where the excess charges are not free to move]]). In the [[184_notes:charge_and_matter|first week of notes]], we talked about what it means for an object to be an insulator or conductor. When we make //__a point charge assumption__//, these properties don't matter because all of the charge is assumed to be at a single location (whether or not the object is a conductor or an insulator).  However, when talking about shapes and distributions of charge, whether the object is an insulator or conductor can significantly change what the electric field looks like. We'll start by considering the electric field for a conducting sphere (remember that a [[184_notes:charge_and_matter#Types_of_Materials|conductor is a material where the excess charges are free to move]]) and then consider an insulating sphere ([[184_notes:charge_and_matter#Types_of_Materials|where the excess charges are not free to move]]).
  
-=== Conducting Sphere of Charge === +==== Conducting Sphere of Charge ==== 
  
 [{{  184_notes:conductorspherechargedist.png?300|Initial and final charge distribution on a conductor}}] [{{  184_notes:conductorspherechargedist.png?300|Initial and final charge distribution on a conductor}}]
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 [{{  184_notes:conductorsphereefield.png?200|Electric Field inside and around a conductor}}]  [{{  184_notes:conductorsphereefield.png?200|Electric Field inside and around a conductor}}] 
-Outside the metal ball, we would hypothesize that the electric field should point in towards the metal ball since the electric field points toward a negative point charge. If you actually do the math (either with an integral over the volume of the sphere or with a computational code), you will see exactly this. The electric field will point radially towards the metal ball and get stronger the closer you are to the ball. In fact, if you are looking for the electric field outside the metal ball, it will look exactly the same as if there were a point charge (with the same net negative charge) at the center of the ball. Thus, //__outside a conducting sphere__// we can still use the equation:+Outside the metal ball, we would hypothesize that the electric field should point in towards the metal ball since the electric field points toward a negative point charge. If you actually do the math (either with an integral over the volume of the sphere or with a computational code), you will see exactly this. The electric field will point radially towards the metal ball and get stronger the closer you are to the ball. In fact, if you are looking for the electric field outside the metal ball, it will look exactly the same as if there were a point charge (with the same net negative charge) at the center of the ball. **Thus, outside a conducting sphere we can still use the equation:**
 →Eoutside=14πϵ0Qr2ˆr →Eoutside=14πϵ0Qr2ˆr
 where Q is the total charge on the ball and →r points from the center of the sphere to the observation location. where Q is the total charge on the ball and →r points from the center of the sphere to the observation location.
  
-However, what would happen to the electric field inside the sphere? We know that all of the charges should be located on the surface of the metal ball. When inside the sphere, there will always be a contribution to the electric field from the electrons on one side of the sphere that opposes the electric field contribution from the electrons on the other side of sphere. This means that on the inside, the electric field from the electrons on the surface perfectly cancels out, leaving a net field of zero. +However, what would happen to the electric field inside the sphere? We know that all of the charges should be located on the surface of the metal ball. When inside the sphere, there will always be a contribution to the electric field from the electrons on one side of the sphere that opposes the electric field contribution from the electrons on the other side of sphere. This means that on the inside, the electric field from the electrons on the surface perfectly cancels out,** leaving a net field of zero.** 
 →Einside=0 →Einside=0
 This is actually the primary idea behind shielding sensitive electronics (also referred to as a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage|Faraday Cage]]). If you surround something with a sheet of charged metal, then you can guarantee that there will be no electric field on the inside. This net electric field inside of the cage is a result of the superposition of the applied external field and the field generated by the cage material, the cage is not "blocking the field." This is actually the primary idea behind shielding sensitive electronics (also referred to as a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage|Faraday Cage]]). If you surround something with a sheet of charged metal, then you can guarantee that there will be no electric field on the inside. This net electric field inside of the cage is a result of the superposition of the applied external field and the field generated by the cage material, the cage is not "blocking the field."
  
-=== Insulating Sphere of Charge ===+==== Insulating Sphere of Charge ====
 [{{  184_notes:insulatorspherechargedist.png?300|Initial and final charge distribution on an insulator sphere}}] [{{  184_notes:insulatorspherechargedist.png?300|Initial and final charge distribution on an insulator sphere}}]
 If instead we have an insulating, plastic sphere (rather than a metal, conducting one), we would see a very different charge distribution. In an insulator, excess charges cannot move freely and are stuck where they were placed. Thus, if we place a collection of electrons inside the ball, they will stay distributed through the volume of the sphere rather moving to the surface. For the purposes of our class, we will //__assume that any charge on an insulator will be evenly distributed__// - in future courses you may talk about what would happen if there was an uneven distribution of charge. This means that inside the insulating sphere, the excess charges will be spread out through the inside. If instead we have an insulating, plastic sphere (rather than a metal, conducting one), we would see a very different charge distribution. In an insulator, excess charges cannot move freely and are stuck where they were placed. Thus, if we place a collection of electrons inside the ball, they will stay distributed through the volume of the sphere rather moving to the surface. For the purposes of our class, we will //__assume that any charge on an insulator will be evenly distributed__// - in future courses you may talk about what would happen if there was an uneven distribution of charge. This means that inside the insulating sphere, the excess charges will be spread out through the inside.
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 Another common example that we will frequently talk about is the idea of a charged cylinder. This will become particularly relevant when we start talking about wires in circuits next week. For now, we'll talk about the shape of the electric field for a conducting and an insulating cylinder of charge. Another common example that we will frequently talk about is the idea of a charged cylinder. This will become particularly relevant when we start talking about wires in circuits next week. For now, we'll talk about the shape of the electric field for a conducting and an insulating cylinder of charge.
  
-=== Conducting Cylinder of Charge ===+==== Conducting Cylinder of Charge ====
  
 Much like what happened with the metal sphere, if we place an excess charge - let's say it's positive this time - on a metal cylinder (like a wire), those charges will spread out as far as they possibly can from one another ("like" charges repel) because they are free to move through a conductor. This means that all of the charges will spread out over the surface of the cylinder, leaving the inside of cylinder neutral.  Much like what happened with the metal sphere, if we place an excess charge - let's say it's positive this time - on a metal cylinder (like a wire), those charges will spread out as far as they possibly can from one another ("like" charges repel) because they are free to move through a conductor. This means that all of the charges will spread out over the surface of the cylinder, leaving the inside of cylinder neutral. 
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-=== Insulating Cylinder of Charge ===+==== Insulating Cylinder of Charge ====
 [{{  184_notes:insulatorcylinderchargedist.png?150|Charge distribution for a cylindrical insulator}}] [{{  184_notes:insulatorcylinderchargedist.png?150|Charge distribution for a cylindrical insulator}}]
-For an insulating cylinder (like a plastic pipe) if we add excess charges, those will stay in place (as charges are not free to move in an insulator). We will again make the assumption in these cases of __//a uniform charge distribution//__ for our course, meaning any insulator has excess charges evenly spread over it. +For an insulating cylinder (like a plastic pipe) if we add excess charges, those will stay in place (as charges are not free to move in an insulator). We will again //__make the assumption in these cases of a uniform charge distribution__// for our course, meaning any insulator has //excess// charges evenly spread over it. 
  
 Just like with the sphere, if we are outside the cylinder, the electric field will look the same as if the cylinder were a conductor (as long as it has the same amount of charge). Namely that it points radially away from the positively charged cylinder, expect near the ends of the cylinder. Just like with the sphere, if we are outside the cylinder, the electric field will look the same as if the cylinder were a conductor (as long as it has the same amount of charge). Namely that it points radially away from the positively charged cylinder, expect near the ends of the cylinder.
  
-Inside the insulating cylinder, the electric field would be non-zero. The contributions to the electric field from the charges in the middle of the cylinder do not completely cancel out, leaving an electric field that points away from the center of the cylinder for a positive charge (it would point towards the center for a negative charge). The electric field inside will be strongest at the edge of the cylinder and will be smallest (or exactly zero) in the center.+Inside the insulating cylinder, the electric field would be non-zero. The contributions to the electric field from the charges in the middle of the cylinder do not completely cancel out, leaving an electric field that points away from the center of the cylinder for a positive charge (it would point towards the center for a negative charge). **The electric field inside will be strongest at the edge of the cylinder and will be smallest (or exactly zero) in the center.**
 [{{184_notes:insulatorcylinderefield.png?125|Electric field inside and around a cylindrical insulator  }}] [{{184_notes:insulatorcylinderefield.png?125|Electric field inside and around a cylindrical insulator  }}]
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