cowmoo32 said:Homework Statement
You want to create an electric field = < 0, 5e4,0 > N/C at location < 0, 0, 0>.
Where would you place a proton to produce this field at the origin?
Homework Equations
[tex]\vec E = q\hat{r} / 4\pi\varepsilon r^2[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm not sure how to treat [tex]\hat{r}[/tex] in the equation. Obviously, I know it's equal to r/rmag, but rmag is what's throwing me.
That's just a unit vector (magnitude = 1) giving the direction of the field. The field from a positive charge is radially outward.cowmoo32 said:I'm not sure how to treat [tex]\hat{r}[/tex] in the equation. Obviously, I know it's equal to r/rmag, but rmag is what's throwing me.
cowmoo32 said:Ok, I thought that unit vector might be 1, so I solve for [tex]r^2[/tex], correct? I tried that and didn't get the right answer.
cowmoo32 said:5e4 = [(1.6e-19)(9e9)] / r^2
I got r = 1.69707e-7
cowmoo32 said:Because when I submit it online it tells me that's the wrong answer. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.
To determine where to place a proton to produce a field at the origin, you need to know the magnitude and direction of the field at the origin. This information can be obtained by using the formula for the electric field, which takes into account the distance between the proton and the origin, as well as the charge of the proton.
Yes, the distance between the proton and the origin is a crucial factor in determining the magnitude and direction of the electric field. As the distance increases, the strength of the field decreases, so the proton should be placed at a specific distance to produce the desired field at the origin.
No, the angle at which the proton is placed also affects the electric field. The field will be strongest when the proton is placed directly on the line connecting the proton and the origin, and it will decrease as the angle deviates from this line.
The charge of the proton is a crucial factor in determining the strength of the electric field at the origin. A higher charge will result in a stronger field, while a lower charge will result in a weaker field. The charge also affects the direction of the field, with like charges repelling and opposite charges attracting.
Yes, there are other factors that can affect the electric field at the origin, such as the presence of other charged particles in the vicinity and the dielectric constant of the medium. These factors can alter the strength and direction of the field, so they should also be taken into consideration when determining where to place a proton to produce a field at the origin.