A point particle (ideal particle or point-like particle, often spelled pointlike particle) is an idealization of particles heavily used in physics. Its defining feature is that it lacks spatial extension; being dimensionless, it does not take up space. A point particle is an appropriate representation of any object whenever its size, shape, and structure are irrelevant in a given context. For example, from far enough away, any finite-size object will look and behave as a point-like object. A point particle can also be referred in the case of a moving body in terms of physics.
In the theory of gravity, physicists often discuss a point mass, meaning a point particle with a nonzero mass and no other properties or structure. Likewise, in electromagnetism, physicists discuss a point charge, a point particle with a nonzero charge.Sometimes, due to specific combinations of properties, extended objects behave as point-like even in their immediate vicinity. For example, spherical objects interacting in 3-dimensional space whose interactions are described by the inverse square law behave in such a way as if all their matter were concentrated in their centers of mass. In Newtonian gravitation and classical electromagnetism, for example, the respective fields outside a spherical object are identical to those of a point particle of equal charge/mass located at the center of the sphere.In quantum mechanics, the concept of a point particle is complicated by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, because even an elementary particle, with no internal structure, occupies a nonzero volume. For example, the atomic orbit of an electron in the hydrogen atom occupies a volume of ~10−30 m3. There is nevertheless a distinction between elementary particles such as electrons or quarks, which have no known internal structure, versus composite particles such as protons, which do have internal structure: A proton is made of three quarks.
Elementary particles are sometimes called "point particles", but this is in a different sense than discussed above.
Homework Statement
if a point charge is brought near a narrow stream of water will the water be attracted to the charge, repelled from it, or neither? why? water molecules are permanent electric dipoles.
Homework Equations
not sure
The Attempt at a Solution
i don't think the water...
Homework Statement
Two point charges Q1 = 69.5 μC and Q2 = 19.9 μC are fixed on the two ends of the diameter of a semi-circle with a radius of r = 21.3 cm as shown in the figure...
I'm interested if it's possible to compute potential inside and outside
dielectric sphere (with permittivity \varepsilon_1 ) which is
placed in field of point charge q lying outside the sphere where
permittivity is \varepsilon_2 . I've tried to solve it
using Legendre polynomilas but I...
Homework Statement
Point charge q1= -5.00 is at the origin and point charge q2= +3.00 is on the -x axis at x= 3.00 cm. Point P is on the y-axis at y= 4.00 cm .
Calculate the electric fields E1 and E2 at point P due to the charges q1 and q2. Express your results in terms of unit vectors...
Point charge +Q is placed close to a very large conducting plane. A professor of physics asserted that the field caused by this configuration is the same as would be obtained by removing the plane and placing a point charge -Q of equal magnitude in the mirror-image position behind the initial...
Homework Statement
I need help seeing if I did this right...
This is from Fundamentals of Physics, 8th edition, volume 2. By Jearl Walker.
Chapter 24, problem 88.
A particle of positive charge Q is fixed at point P. A second particle of mass m and negative charge -q moves at a constant...
Homework Statement
Point charges Q, -2Q and 3Q are situated at the corners A, B and C respectively of an eqilateral triangle of side l, and another point charge q, of the same sign as Q, is placed at the centre of this triangle. What is the force acting on the charge q, and what is the angle...
Homework Statement
A point charge, Q, is located @ (0,0,d) above infinite conducting plane that lies in xy plane and is maintained at ground potential. Find:
a.) surface charge density as a function of x and y on conducting plane, and
b.) total charge induced on conducting plane...
If there is a point charge at the center of a hollow sphere that has voltage of V0. How would I go by solving the voltage and electric field distribution?
I know I can use Poisson (Laplace) to find distribution had there been no charge inside the sphere, and could use Gauss had there been no V...
Homework Statement
A proton with a speed 1.00x10^6 m/s enters a region with a uniform magnetic field of 0.800 T, and points into the page. The proton enters the region at an angle of 60º Find the exit angle.
Homework Equations
F=qvBsin(theta), F=qvxB
The Attempt at a Solution
I know...
Homework Statement
A proton with a speed 1.00x10^6 m/s enters a region with a uniform magnetic field of 0.800 T, and points into the page. The proton enters the region at an angle of 60º Find the exit angle and distance d.
Homework Equations
F=qvBsin(theta), F=qvxB
The Attempt at a...
Homework Statement
2 particles of charge q and -2q are located as shown in http://s966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/acherentia/ . A third charge Q is placed on the x-axis and it is found that the total electric force on Q is zero. In which region of the figure is Q located?
Homework...
Given: a point charge (at rest at the Origin at time t=0) with a constant acceleration in the +x direction. Computation of E{x} at points on the y-axis produces negative values that approach negative infinity as y approaches zero. Extrapolation to y=0 suggests an infinite self-force on the...
Homework Statement
Consider the electric field created by a very long charged line of negative linear charge density -2.50 nC/m.
A small positive point charge of 8 mC moves from a distance of 9 cm to a distance of 17 cm.
How much work is done by the electric field?
Hint: The...
Hi,
I'm writing a small simulator where two objects apply force on each other inversely proportional to square of distance between them. ( like gravty )
in terms of gravity, I think this is the only force that I have to take into consideration.
but I'm confused about electrical and magnetic...
Homework Statement
There is a negative point charge between 2 oppositely charged plates. Positive at top and negative at bottom. The electric field runs downwards from pos to neg.
In which direction is the electric field of the point charge.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a...
Homework Statement
A 4.9-µC point charge is located at x = 1.1 m, y = 3.1 m, and a -3.9-µC point charge is located at x = 2.1 m, y = -1.9 m.
(a) Find the magnitude(inkN/C) and direction(in degrees) of the electric field at x = -3.2 m, y = 0.9 m.
(b) Find the magnitude(in N) and...
Homework Statement
Show that B for a point charge is equal to
Homework Equations
I'm not all that sure. I read that maxwell's equations can be used to derive this, so I'd imagine that it's
The Attempt at a Solution
If it were that, then, if i have a point charge moving...
While reading through the Feynman Lectures on Physics (volume 1, number 28) I have come across the formula for the electric field for a moving point charge - it's the equation labelled (1) on this page:
http://maxwellsociety.net/PhysicsCorner/InteractingParticles/AcceleratingCharges.html...
Homework Statement
Show that with d spatial dimensions the potential \phi due to a point charge q is given by
\phi (r) = \frac{\Gamma(\frac{d}{2}-1)}{4\pi^{d/2}}\frac{q}{r^{d-2}}
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
The electric field strength is known to be:
E(r) =...
Homework Statement
It is found that Poyntings vector gives
P = ExH = (mu0q2a2sin2(theta)/6pi2cr2)r
This apparently leads to
Total Power = (mu0q2a2/6pi2c)\int(sin2(theta)/r2)(2pir2sin(theta)d\theta)
What I am unsure of is where the
(2pir2sin(theta)d\theta)
appears from...
It is found that Poyntings vector gives
P = ExH = (mu0q2a2sin2(theta)/6pi2cr2)r
This apparently leads to
Total Power = (mu0q2a2/6pi2c)\int(sin2(theta)/r2)(2pir2sin(theta)d\theta)
What I am unsure of is where the
(2pir2sin(theta)d\theta)
appears from. Can anyone help?
A point charge inside infinite dielectric material
1. The problem statement, all variables and given known data
A point charge is an infinite medium of dielectric material having a relative permittivity \epsilonr. <--- epsilon(sub r). Find the electric field vector and the potential function...
Homework Statement
Given that the electric field in a certain region is E = (z+1)*sin(Φ)aρ + (z+1)*ρ*cos(Φ)aΦ + ρ*sin(Φ)az V/m, determine the work done in moving a 4 nC charge from (4,0,0) to (4,30°,0).
Homework Equations
W = -Q*int(E·dl)
The Attempt at a Solution
Here is what I...
So I am playing around with the differential form of Gauss's Law:
\nabla \cdot \vec{E} = \frac{\rho}{\epsilon_0}
Starting off simple with a point charge, the electric field is:
\vec{E} = \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \frac{q}{r^2} \hat{r}
And the divergence, in spherical coordinates...
Homework Statement
This is more of a general question than it is a homework problem, therefore I'll begin by apologizing if I have violated any forum rules. If you can look past this transgression and help me with this question, I would greatly appreciate it.
I'd like to determine the...
I've been working on this for a little while now (in CGS units), and am not really sure where I've gone wrong at in calculating the potential, so I've come here! Here is the problem:
What is the potential caused by placing a point charge Q at the center of a dielectric sphere (\epsilon2)...
Homework Statement
The surface of a sphere of radius a is charged with a constant surface density \sigma. What is the total charge Q' on the sphere? Find the force produced by this charge distribution on a point charge q located on the z axis for z > a and for z < a.Homework Equations
The...
Homework Statement
A point charge q = -0.368 nC is fixed at the origin. Where must a proton be placed in order for the electric force acting on it to be exactly opposite to its weight? Let the y-axis be vertical (positive up and negative down) and the x-axis be horizontal (positive to the...
1. A point charge Q is held in the center of a charged ring. Half of the ring is charged
uniformly with charge 2Q and the other half with 4Q. When the point charge is released, it
accelerates toward infinitum. What is the ultimate speed of the point charge?
2. Homework Equations [E=F/q]...
Homework Statement
Four identical charges are placed at the corners of a square of side side L.
Find the magnitude total force exerted on one charge by the other three charges.
Express your answer in terms of the variables Q, L and appropriate constants.
where did the L root2 in the...
Homework Statement
a point charge of .04144 uC (micro C) is inside a pyramid. determine the total electric flux through the surface of the pyramid in units Nm^2/C
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
i really don't know, i don't feel like there is enough information given.
I was hoping people might be able to provide some insight into the following fairly basic scenario (not homework/school related). Imagine a positive point charge on the x-axis. Also on the x-axis, to the right, is an electric dipole, with finite spacing, pointed along the x axis, with the...
Homework Statement
Three identical point charges of 2.0x10-6C are placed on the x-axis. The firs charge is at the origin, the second to the right at x= 50cm, and the third is at 100 cm mark. What are the magnitude and direction of the electrostatic force which acts on the charge at the...
Homework Statement
The z=0 plane is covered with the uniform surface charge density, \rho_s=10^{-9}, while at the same time the point charge q=10^{-9} is located at (0,0,1). Where can an electron be place so if released, it will not move.
Homework Equations...
Homework Statement
In below figure, the three particles are fixed in place and have charges q1 = q2 = +e and
q3 = +2e. Distance a = 6.00 μm. What are the magnitude of the
net electric field at point P due to the particles?
http://www.geocities.com/imfrrreal/22-36.jpg
Homework Equations...
Hi Friends I am student of BsCs- 1st Semester,
I am facing problem to solve a question of physics. I have tried my best to solve it but I am fail, can anyone do it for me I will thank to him.
Here Is The Question
Find the force on a positive point charge q located a distance x from the...
Homework Statement
Four charges are placed on the corners of a rectangle. What is the resultant force on the positive charge (a = 1.5 m, b = 0.5 m, q = 1.1 × 10-9C)?
(see attached drawing)
Homework Equations
Im having problems summing the forces using superposition
The Attempt at a...
If there's a point charge at the origin, I want to find two closed surfaces such that the flux through one of them is zero while the other is not.
I know this may seem trivial but I just want to make sure I understand the question.
My answer would be that to get a zero flux, the closed...
Homework Statement
I need some help solving this question, it is the last one I have to do and I'm not sure how to solve it.
A point charge (m = 1.0 g) at the end of an insulating string of length 53 cm is observed to be in equilibrium in a uniform horizontal electric field of 9000 N/C...
Sorry for the poor title - I'm not entirely sure how to describe the type of problem!
Homework Statement
A charge of -4.00 x 10-6 C is fixed in place. From a horizontal distance of 55.0cm a particle of mass 2.50 x 10-3 kg and charge -3.00 x 10-6 C is fired with an initial speed of 15.0m/s...
Homework Statement
This may be simple, but I don't seem to get the right answer:
An electric field \vec{E}=100,000\hat\imath\;{\rm N}/{\rm C} causes the 5.0 {\rm g} point charge in the figure (Intro 1 figure) to hang at a 20^\circ angle.
E = 100,000 N/C, point charge weighs 5 g...
[solved] electric potential: point charge in a hollow charged conductor
Homework Statement
A hollow spherical conductor, carrying a net charge +Q, has inner radius r1 and outer radius r2 = 2r1. At the center of the sphere is a point charge +Q/2.
d) Determine the potential as a...
Homework Statement
Four point charges have the same magnitude of 3.1 x 10-12 C and are fixed to the corners of a square that is 5.3 cm on a side. Three of the charges are positive and one is negative. Determine the magnitude of the net electric field that exists at the center of the square...
Homework Statement
Consider a conducting spherical shell with inner radius 0.8 m and outer radius 1.3 m. There is a net charge 3 μC on the shell. At its center, within the hollow cavity, there is a point charge 3 μC.
Determine the flux through the spherical Gaussian surface S, which has a...
Homework Statement
A point charge is at the center of a conducting hollow sphere, with radius 0.011m, that is within another conducting hollow sphere of radius 0.041m. The point charge is Q0=+4.30e-6 C, the inner sphere has a net charge of Q1=-1.70e-6 C, and the outer sphere has a net charge...
Homework Statement
3 Point charges are fixed in place in a right triangle. What is the electric force on the +1.0 nanoC charge due to the other two charges?
Basically you have 3 charges in a right angle as decribed, let's call them A, B, and C. In the upper left you have A, +0.8 nanoC...
A general problem you run into during an E&M class is the one involving a point charge a distance from a charged sphere. In cases where the point is far enough away from the sphere, the system can be treated like two points.
In my case I have a point charge "q" a distance "z" away from the...
Homework Statement
The distance between the oxygen nucleus and each of the oxygen nuclei in an H2O molecule is 9.58*10^-11m; the angle between the H atoms is 105 degrees. Find the electric field produced by the nuclear charges (positive charges) at the point P at a distance of 1.20*10^-10m...
Hi I think I figured it but I'm not sure.
Here's the problem:
How Much Work In Fig. 25-34, how much work is required to bring the charge of +5q in from infinity along the dashed line and place it as shown near the two fixed charges +4q and –2q? Take distance d = 1.40 cm and charge q = 1.6 ×...