A slab of insulating material of uniform thickness d, lying between \frac{-d}{2} to \frac{d}{2} along the x axis, extends infinitely in the y and z directions, as shown in the figure.

shadsiei

shadsiei

Answered question

2021-04-13

A slab of insulating material of uniform thickness d, lying between d2 to d2 along the x axis, extends infinitely in the y and z directions, as shown in the figure. The slab has a uniform charge density ρ. The electric field is zero in the middle of the slab, at x=0. Which of the following statements is true of the electric field Evec at the surface of one side of the slab?

Answer & Explanation

Leonard Stokes

Leonard Stokes

Skilled2021-04-15Added 98 answers

(a) Both the magnitude and the direction of Electric Field (E) are constant across the entire surface.
(b) θ=1.57 rad
(c) As implied by the fact that E(out) is not given as a function of x, this magnitude is constant everywhere outside the slab, not just at the surface.
Eout=dρ2ϵ0
(d) E=phoXϵ0
star233

star233

Skilled2023-05-28Added 403 answers

Given:
- Slab thickness: d
- Slab extends infinitely in the y and z directions.
- Slab has a uniform charge density: ρ
- Electric field is zero at the middle of the slab, at x=0.
To find the behavior of the electric field at the surface of one side of the slab, we can consider a Gaussian surface just outside the slab on one side. The Gaussian surface is a cylindrical surface with radius r and height h, centered on the x-axis. Let's denote the charge enclosed by this Gaussian surface as Qenc.
By symmetry, the electric field 𝐄 must be uniform and directed radially outwards from the x-axis at every point on the Gaussian surface.
We can apply Gauss's Law to the Gaussian surface to relate the electric field to the enclosed charge:
𝐄·d𝐀=Qencε0
Since the electric field is constant and parallel to the area vector, the dot product simplifies to 𝐄·𝐀=EA, where A is the magnitude of the area of the Gaussian surface.
Considering that the only charge enclosed is from the slab, Qenc is equal to the total charge of the slab, which is given by Qenc=ρ·V, where V is the volume enclosed by the Gaussian surface.
Now, let's determine the volume V enclosed by the Gaussian surface. The volume can be obtained by multiplying the area of the circular base by the height of the cylinder. Assuming the radius of the circular base is r and the height of the cylinder is h, we have V=πr2h.
Substituting Qenc=ρ·V into Gauss's Law, we get:
EA=ρ·Vε0
Simplifying further:
E·(πr2h)=ρ·(πr2h)ε0
Simplifying the equation above, we find:
E=ρε0
Therefore, the electric field 𝐄 at the surface of one side of the slab is equal to ρε0.
Hence, the correct statement is:
'The electric field 𝐄 at the surface of one side of the slab is ρε0.'
user_27qwe

user_27qwe

Skilled2023-05-28Added 375 answers

The electric field 𝐄 at the surface of one side of the slab is directed radially outward or inward, perpendicular to the surface.
Explanation:
Since the electric field is zero at the center of the slab (x=0), the electric field lines must be symmetric about this point. Due to the infinite extension of the slab in the y and z directions, the electric field lines should also be symmetric in those directions.
Considering a point on the surface of the slab, the electric field lines will be perpendicular to the surface. Since the slab has a uniform charge density, the electric field lines will be radial, either directed outward or inward.
Therefore, the statement that is true is that the electric field 𝐄 at the surface of one side of the slab is directed radially outward or inward, perpendicular to the surface.
karton

karton

Expert2023-05-28Added 613 answers

Step 1:
To solve the problem, let's consider a Gaussian surface just outside the surface of the slab on one side. The Gaussian surface is a cylinder of length L and radius R, with its axis perpendicular to the x-axis and centered at x = -d/2, where the slab starts.
The electric field at any point on the Gaussian surface can be written as 𝐄total=𝐄slab+𝐄outside, where 𝐄slab is the electric field due to the slab and 𝐄outside is the electric field due to the charges outside the slab.
Since the electric field is zero in the middle of the slab, at x = 0, and the slab has a uniform charge density ρ, the electric field due to the slab is zero at any point inside the slab. Therefore, 𝐄slab=0.
Step 2:
Now, let's calculate 𝐄outside. The electric field due to the charges outside the slab can be obtained using Gauss's Law. Gauss's Law states that the flux of the electric field through a closed surface is equal to the total charge enclosed divided by the permittivity of free space (ϵ0).
Since the Gaussian surface is outside the slab, the flux through the surface due to the charges outside the slab is equal to the flux through the surface due to the charges on the slab. Therefore, we can write:
Φ=𝐄total·d𝐀=Qenclosedϵ0
The total charge enclosed within the Gaussian surface is simply the charge density ρ multiplied by the volume of the slab inside the Gaussian surface. The volume of the slab inside the Gaussian surface is the length L of the Gaussian surface multiplied by the thickness d of the slab. Therefore, Qenclosed=ρLd.
The flux through the Gaussian surface is given by:
Φ=𝐄total·d𝐀
Since the electric field 𝐄total is constant and parallel to the surface of the Gaussian cylinder, the dot product 𝐄total·d𝐀 is simply EtotaldA. Therefore, we can write:
Φ=EtotaldA=EtotaldA=EtotalA
where A is the surface area of the Gaussian cylinder, given by A=2πRL.
Substituting the values into Gauss's Law equation, we have:
EtotalA=Qenclosedϵ0
Etotal2πRL=ρLdϵ0
Step 3:
Simplifying the equation, we find:
Etotal=ρd2ϵ0
Therefore, the electric field 𝐄total at the surface of one side of the slab is given by:
𝐄total=ρ<br>d2ϵ0𝐧^
where 𝐧^ is a unit vector normal to the surface of the slab.
In conclusion, the statement that is true of the electric field 𝐄total at the surface of one side of the slab is:
𝐄total=ρd2ϵ0𝐧^

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