Question

Two parallel circular rings of radius R have their centres in the X axis separated by a distance L. If each ring carries a uniformly distributed charge Q,find the electric field at points along the X axis

Answer 1

E" = Q/4πε₀√[(x² + R²)]³(x - (L - x)/√[(L - 2x)L/(x² + R²) + 1]³})

Step-by-step explanation:

The electric field due to a charged ring of radius R at a distance x from the center of the ring when the axis of the ring is located on the x - axis is

E = Qx/4πε₀[√(x² + R²)]³

Since the rings are separated by a distance L, the electric field at point x due to the second ring is E' = -Q(L - x)/4πε₀[√((L - x)² + R²)]³. It is negative since it points in the negative x - direction.

So, the resultant electric field at x is E" = E + E' = Qx/4πε₀[√(x² + R²)]³ + {-Q(L - x)/4πε₀[√((L - x)² + R²)]³}

E" = Qx/4πε₀√[(x² + R²)]³ - Q(L - x)/4πε₀√[((L - x)² + R²)]³

E" = Q/4πε₀(x/√[(x² + R²)]³ - (L - x)/√[((L - x)² + R²)]³})

E" = Q/4πε₀(x/√[(x² + R²)]³ - (L - x)/√[(L² - 2Lx + x² + R²)]³})

E" = Q/4πε₀(x/√[(x² + R²)]³ - (L - x)/√[(L - 2x)L + (x² + R²)]³})

E" = Q/4πε₀√[(x² + R²)]³(x - (L - x)/√[(L - 2x)L/(x² + R²) + 1]³})

So, the electric field at points along the x axis is

E" = Q/4πε₀√[(x² + R²)]³(x - {(L - x)/√[(L - 2x)L/(x² + R²) + 1]³})