Chapter 12: Calculating Electric Fields and Potentials Due to Continuous Charge Distributions

linear charge

For a \_____ distribution or any one-dimensional distribution, use differential line segments.

planar charge

For a \_____ distribution, use concentric rings (washers) of charge located on the plane centered where the point of interest drops a perpendicular onto the plane.

spherical

For a \____ distribution, divide the region into spherical shells

Volume of a spherical shell

Area of a washer

dQ \= λ d(length) \= λdL

Linear charge distribution

dQ \= σ d(area) \= σdA

Planar or surface charge distribution

dQ \= ρ d(volume) \= ρdV

Volume charge distribution

λ

is customarily the symbol for linear charge density.

σ

is customarily the symbol for area charge density.

ρ

is customarily the symbol for volume charge density.

electric field

The \____ cannot have a component that points in a direction that is not uniquely determined by the charge distribution itself

linear charge

For \_____ distribution or any one-dimensional distribution (e.g., a curved wire), use differential line segments.

planar charge

For a \____ distribution, use concentric rings (washers) of charge located on the plane centered where the point of interest drops a perpendicular onto the plane.

Symmetry

______is used to determine which components of the electric field are possibly nonzero.

electric field

The ____cannot have a component that points in a direction that is not uniquely determined by the charge distribution itself.