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Grade 12Electrostatics

A point charge q is placed in the axis of a ring of radius r at a distance x from the centre. The ring has charge q aswell. Find the tension in the ring.

Profile image of Anwesan Pal
14 Years agoGrade 12
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2 Answers

Profile image of Aman  Bansal
14 Years ago

Dear Anwesan,

The charge density is

 = Q / (2  a)

Remember, our equation for the electric field is for the magnitude of the electric field. Consider a little piece of charge dq as sketched in the diagram. Because that charge dq is there, there is an electric field dE at point P in the direction shown. The component dEx of that electric field along the direction of the axis perpendicular to the plane of the ring is

dEx = dE cos 

dEx = dE (x/r)

dEx = [k dq/r2] (x/r)

dEx = [k dq/r3] x

dEx = [k x dq/r3]

dEx = [k x/r3] dq

Notice that, with this geometry, once the radius of the ring a is specified and the position x, that fully specifies r. r and x do not change as we integrate over dq.
[[ Remember, SQRT() means "square root of ()" because that is easier for me to type. ]]

r = SQRT(a2 + x2)

r3 = (a2 + x2)3/2

1/r3 = 1/(a2 + x2)3/2

Remember, x and a are not variables.

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Aman Bansal

Askiitian Expert

Profile image of Anwesan Pal
14 Years ago

I understood your point but what I wanted to know was the tension in an elementary constituent of the ring due to the coulombic force between the point charge and the ring..........