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schaefera
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Homework Statement
I'm trying to find the energy stored in the field of a circular charge distribution of constant charge density.
Homework Equations
I know that the energy stored in a field is the same as the potential energy of the system.
dU= [itex]\varphi[/itex] dq = [itex]\varphi[/itex](σ dV)
Though my book also says that dU= (1/2) ρ [itex]\varphi[/itex] dV
So I'm not sure which equation to use. (I'm using Purcell.)
The Attempt at a Solution
If I integrate without the 1/2, I get the correct answer (8Q^2)/(3πa).
But why don't I use the 1/2?
Also, I understand that dq=σ dA, and dA=2πr^2 dr, but why do I not use the expression with the 1/2 to get the correct answer when the book says that this formula gives the energy of a system? Where does the 1/2 even come from in doing from dq to dV (or dA) as the quantity being integrated?