Electrostatics

Electricity and Magnetism Level 3

If an infinitesimal small point charge is placed right on the edge of sphere at distance x = R x=R , where R R is the radius of the sphere and x x is the distance of the charge from the centre of the sphere, then what is the total flux through the sphere?

0 (q/2) / permittivity of free space q / permittivity of free space (q/4) /permittivity of free space

Saraswati Sharma by Saraswati Sharma , 23, India

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1 solution

Saraswati Sharma
Jan 24, 2017

We think of this charge as half on inside of sphere and half on outside of the sphere , thereby reducing the flux value by half . If the charge is inside the sphere , then the flux is q/permittivity of free space.

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I suppose we could just as easily assume it to be completely outside or completely inside. Seems like a very ambiguous situation.

Steven Chase - 4 years, 4 months ago

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charges on surface of sphere do exist . Like wise after doing vector calculus for a non-uniform / uniform closed surfaces , we get flux through a closed sphere as (Qenclosed)/ permittivity of free space , In the same way after doing vector calculus for this case , we will get (Qenclosed/2)/ permittivity of free space .

Saraswati Sharma - 4 years, 4 months ago

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