Electric field at some distance from a plate?

In summary, a thin horizontal plate with a surface area of 0.1m by 0.1m and a charge of 10^10 electrons has an electric field strength of 5.69x10^7 N/C at a distance of 0.0001m above the center of the top of the plate. This can be calculated using the equation Eplane = n/(2(ε0)), where n is the charge density calculated by dividing the total charge by the surface area. However, this calculation may not be accurate as it assumes a uniform distribution of the electrons on the surface of the plate.
  • #1
m84uily
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Homework Statement


A thin horizontal 0.1m by 0.1m plate is charged with 10^10 electrons. If the electrons are uniformly distributed on the surface, what is the strength of the electric field 0.0001m above the center of the top of the surface of the plate?


Homework Equations


Eplane = n/(2(ε0))
n = Q/A

The Attempt at a Solution



I thought that because the distance to the edges of the plate is 1000 times greater than the distance that the electric field is being calculated from, that the equation for electric field of a plane could be used.

Eplane = n/(2(ε0))

= 10^10/(2A(ε0))

However this gives me the wrong answer by a very large margin! Thanks in advance for your help.
 
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  • #2
Charge of an electron is 1.602x10^-19 C.
 

FAQ: Electric field at some distance from a plate?

What is an electric field?

An electric field is a physical quantity that describes the strength and direction of the electric force that a charged particle would experience at any point in space. It is represented by a vector and is measured in units of newtons per coulomb (N/C).

How is the electric field calculated at a specific distance from a plate?

The electric field at a specific distance from a plate can be calculated using the equation E = σ/ε0, where E is the electric field, σ is the surface charge density of the plate, and ε0 is the permittivity of free space.

What is the direction of the electric field at a distance from a plate?

The direction of the electric field at a distance from a plate is always perpendicular to the surface of the plate. This means that the electric field lines will point away from a positively charged plate and towards a negatively charged plate.

How does the electric field change as the distance from the plate increases?

The electric field strength decreases as the distance from the plate increases. This is because the electric field follows an inverse square law, meaning that it decreases by the square of the distance.

What factors can affect the electric field at a distance from a plate?

The electric field at a distance from a plate can be affected by the magnitude and distribution of the charges on the plate, the distance from the plate, and any intervening materials that may alter the electric field, such as dielectric materials.

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