Electric field of a continuous charge distribution at any point

In summary, the conversation discusses a problem involving a non-conducting wire along the y-axis and the calculation of electric field at any point along the x-axis. The person is familiar with computing electric field for a given point, but unsure about doing so for any point. They suggest that if the electric field is known for a specific point, it can be applied to every point along the x-axis.
  • #1
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I am given a continuous charge problem in which there is a non-conducting wire of legnth L lying along the y-axis and I am required to calculate the electric field at any point along the x-axis.
I know how to compute the electric field of a continuous charge distribution at a given point, but I am not sure how to do so for any point.

Thanks
 
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  • #2
Here is your given point: (x0,0)
Does that help? ;)
If you know the electric field for that point, you know it for every point along the x-axis, as you did not use any numerical value for x0.
 

Related to Electric field of a continuous charge distribution at any point

1. What is an electric field and how is it created?

The electric field is a physical quantity that describes the force experienced by a charged particle at any given point in space. It is created by a distribution of electric charges, which can be either discrete point charges or a continuous charge distribution.

2. How is the electric field of a continuous charge distribution calculated at any point?

The electric field at any point in space due to a continuous charge distribution can be calculated by integrating the contributions of individual charges over the entire distribution. This integral is known as the electric field integral and is a fundamental equation in electrostatics.

3. What factors affect the strength of the electric field at a given point?

The strength of the electric field at a given point is affected by the magnitude and distribution of the charges, as well as the distance between the point and the charges. Additionally, the medium in which the charges are located can also affect the electric field.

4. How does the direction of the electric field relate to the distribution of charges?

The direction of the electric field at a given point is always in the direction of the force that would be experienced by a positive test charge placed at that point. For a continuous charge distribution, the direction of the electric field can vary depending on the shape and symmetry of the distribution.

5. Can the electric field of a continuous charge distribution be visualized?

Yes, the electric field of a continuous charge distribution can be visualized by using field line diagrams. These diagrams show the direction and relative strength of the electric field at different points in space, by plotting lines that represent the electric field vectors at those points.

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