184_notes:examples:week2_electric_potential_positive_point

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FIXME Could we maybe add some numbers here? Like R=0.1 cm and Q=5*10^-7 C? Could do this as a charged balloon or something.

Suppose we have a positively charged balloon with total charge Q=5107 C. What is the electric potential at a point P, which is a distance R=50 cm from the center of mass of the balloon? A diagram below shows a rough sketch. Charged Balloon, and Point P

Facts

  • The balloon has total charge Q=5107 C.
  • The point P is a distance R=50 cm away from the center of mass of the balloon.

Lacking

  • The electric potential at P.

Approximations & Assumptions

  • The electric potential at P is due entirely to the balloon.
  • P lies outside of the balloon.
  • The balloon's electric field outside the balloon acts like a point charge centered at the center of mass of the balloon.
  • The electric potential infinitely far away from the balloon is 0 V.

Representations

  • The electric potential due to a point charge (to which we are approximating the balloon) can be written as V=14πϵ0qr,
    where q represents our charge and r is our distance.

The electric potential at P is given by V=14πϵ0qr=14πϵ0QR

  • 184_notes/examples/week2_electric_potential_positive_point.1503955035.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2017/08/28 21:17
  • by tallpaul