Question

A square copper plate, with sides of 50 cm, has no net charge and is placed in a region where there is a uniform 80 kN / C electric field directed perpendicular to the plate. Find a) the charge density of each side of the plate and b) the total load on each side.

Answer 1

a) ±7.08×10⁻⁷ C/m²

b) 1.77×10⁻⁷ C

Step-by-step explanation:

For a conductor,

σ = ±Eε₀,

where σ is the charge density,

E is the electric field,

and ε₀ is the permittivity of space.

a)

σ = ±Eε₀

σ = ±(8×10⁴ N/C) (8.85×10⁻¹² F/m)

σ = ±7.08×10⁻⁷ C/m²

b)

σ = q/A

7.08×10⁻⁷ C/m² = q / (0.5 m)²

q = 1.77×10⁻⁷ C