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TwoTruths
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Homework Statement
A thin insulating rod of length L is placed such that its end point is distance R away from a semi-infinite insulating line. The line has linear charge density [tex]\lambda[/tex]. The rod has charge Q. Both are distributed uniformly. What is the force exerted on the rod?
Define [tex]Q_o[/tex] = charge of the insulating line
Homework Equations
Integrals
[tex]E=\frac{kq}{r^2}[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
Putting aside my main question, I figured I would take the force exerted on an infinitesimally small segment on the rod at distance r. This gives:
[tex]\int \frac{k(Q/L)Q_o dr}{r^2} = k(Q/L)Q_o \int \frac{dr}{r^2}[/tex]
My question is: what is the charge of a semi-infinite line with charge density [tex]\lambda[/tex]? In other words, what is the length of something that is semi-infinite?