Determine The Induced Charge

Consider a dielectric thin rod with total charge q = 1 μ C q=1~\mu\text{C} uniformly distributed over its length. The rod touches a grounded conducting sphere of radius R = 50 cm R=50~\text{cm} as shown in the figure below. Find the charged induced in the sphere in microcoulombs if the length of the rod is L = 1 m L=1~\text{m} . The following integral may be useful: 1 a 2 + x 2 d x = ln ( x + x 2 + a 2 ) + C . \int \frac{1}{\sqrt{a^{2}+x^{2}}}dx=\ln(x+\sqrt{x^2+a^{2}})+C.


The answer is -0.88.

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2 solutions

Anish Puthuraya
Feb 14, 2014

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Let Q \displaystyle Q be the induced charge on the sphere.

Now,
Even though this induced charge is non-uniform ,
The potential due to this induced charge at the center of the sphere is still V 1 = k Q R \displaystyle V_1 = \frac{kQ}{R}

Also,
Potential due to the rod, at the center of the sphere, is given as,

V 2 = k q L l n ( sec α + tan α sec α tan α ) \displaystyle V_2 = \frac{kq}{L}ln\left(\frac{\sec\alpha+\tan\alpha}{\sec\alpha-\tan\alpha}\right)

Since the sphere is grounded ,
V 1 + V 2 = 0 \displaystyle V_1+V_2 = 0

k Q R + k q L l n ( sec α + tan α sec α tan α ) = 0 \displaystyle \frac{kQ}{R} + \frac{kq}{L}ln\left(\frac{\sec\alpha+\tan\alpha}{\sec\alpha-\tan\alpha}\right) = 0

Note that,
tan α = L 2 R \displaystyle\tan\alpha = \frac{L}{2R} and sec α = 4 R 2 + L 2 2 R \displaystyle\sec\alpha = \frac{\sqrt{4R^2+L^2}}{2R}

Substituting the values of tan α \displaystyle \tan\alpha and sec α \displaystyle \sec\alpha , we get,

Q = q R L l n ( 4 R 2 + L 2 + L 4 R 2 + L 2 L ) 0.8813 μ C \displaystyle Q = -\frac{qR}{L}ln\left(\frac{\sqrt{4R^2+L^2}+L}{\sqrt{4R^2+L^2}-L}\right) \approx \boxed{-0.8813\mu C}

Eagerly waiting for your next problem..

Anish Puthuraya - 7 years, 3 months ago

how did you derive the expression for potential due to the rod becuase that is the real thing i have problem deriving ..so please just tell me how did you do it?

ibrahim abdullah - 7 years, 3 months ago

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Check Jatin's solution for this.

Anish Puthuraya - 7 years, 3 months ago

Why wont the induced charge be uniformly distributed?

DT 770 - 2 years ago

I just cant figure out these problems involving double integration

abijith R - 1 year ago
Jatin Yadav
Feb 17, 2014

Since the sphere is grounded, the electrostatic potential at every point on it and hence potential at center would be 0 0 .

Say, charge Q Q is induced.The induced charge would reside at the surface. Hence, the distance of center from every small charge d q d q

The potential due to induced charges at the center ( V 1 V_{1} ) = d q 4 π ϵ 0 R = Q 4 π ϵ R \displaystyle \int \frac{dq}{4\pi \epsilon_{0} R} = \frac{Q}{4 \pi \epsilon_{R}}

Also, the potential at center due to rod ( V 2 V_{2} ) = 2 0 L / 2 q / L d x 4 π ϵ 0 R 2 + x 2 \displaystyle 2 \int_{0}^{L/2} \frac{q/L dx}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0} \sqrt{R^2 + x^2}}

Using L 2 = R \frac{L}{2} = R , V 2 = q 4 π ϵ 0 R ln ( 2 + 1 ) V_{2} = \frac{q}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0} R} \ln(\sqrt{2} + 1)

Hence, total potential at center = V 1 + V 2 = 0 V_{1} + V_{2} = 0

Thus, Q 4 π ϵ R + q 4 π ϵ 0 R ln ( 2 + 1 ) = 0 \frac{Q}{4 \pi \epsilon_{R}} + \frac{q}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}R} \ln(\sqrt{2} + 1) = 0

OR Q = q ln ( 1 + 2 ) = 0.88 μ C Q = -q \ln(1 + \sqrt{2}) = -0.88 \mu C

i did in the same way as you did but while i was integrating i integrated the potential with lower limit=0 and upper limit=L and didnt got the answer right, is my way of doing it wrong?

ibrahim abdullah - 7 years, 3 months ago

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Note that he doubled the integral. So if you did the integral from 0 to L, then you must not double it, then you will get your answer..(you must get it).

Anish Puthuraya - 7 years, 3 months ago

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No he won't get it as for him, x x is distance from lower end of rod, and for me it is from bottom end of rod. If x x were distance from bottom,

V 2 = q 4 π ϵ 0 0 L d x ( R x ) 2 + R 2 V_{2} = \displaystyle \frac{q}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}} \int_{0}^{L} \frac{dx}{\sqrt{(R-x)^2 + R^2}}

jatin yadav - 7 years, 3 months ago

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@Jatin Yadav ohh! thanks jatin yadav

ibrahim abdullah - 7 years, 3 months ago

i did not double it

ibrahim abdullah - 7 years, 3 months ago

Did the same 😄

Giuseppe Saya - 5 years, 3 months ago

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