assignment Homework
assignment Homework
A helix with 17 turns has height \(H\) and radius \(R\). Charge is distributed on the helix so that the charge density increases like (i.e. proportional to) the square of the distance up the helix. At the bottom of the helix the linear charge density is \(0~\frac{\textrm{C}}{\textrm{m}}\). At the top of the helix, the linear charge density is \(13~\frac{\textrm{C}}{\textrm{m}}\). What is the total charge on the helix?
assignment Homework
The gravitational field due to a spherical shell of matter (or equivalently, the
electric field due to a spherical shell of charge) is given by:
\begin{equation}
\vec g =
\begin{cases}
0&\textrm{for } r<a\\
-G \,\frac{M}{b^3-a^3}\,
\left( r-\frac{a^3}{r^2}\right)\, \hat r & \textrm{for } a<r<b\\
-G\,\frac{M}{r^2}\, \hat r & \textrm{for } r>b \\
\end{cases}
\end{equation}
This problem explores the consequences of the divergence theorem for this shell.
assignment Homework
Consider a very light particle of mass \(\mu\) scattering from a very
heavy, stationary particle of mass \(M\). The force between the two
particles is a repulsive Coulomb force \(\frac{k}{r^2}\). The
impact parameter \(b\) in a scattering problem is defined to be the
distance which would be the closest approach if there were no
interaction (See Figure). The initial velocity (far from the
scattering event) of the mass \(\mu\) is \(\vec v_0\). Answer the
following questions about this situation in terms of \(k\), \(M\),
\(\mu\), \(\vec v_0\), and \(b\). ()It is not necessarily wise to answer
these questions in order.)
assignment Homework
For an infinitesimally thin cylindrical shell of radius \(b\) with uniform surface charge density \(\sigma\), the electric field is zero for \(s<b\) and \(\vec{E}= \frac{\sigma b}{\epsilon_0 s}\, \hat s\) for \(s > b\). Use the differential form of Gauss' Law to find the charge density everywhere in space.
assignment Homework
You are on a hike. The altitude nearby is described by the function \(f(x, y)= k x^{2}y\), where \(k=20 \mathrm{\frac{m}{km^3}}\) is a constant, \(x\) and \(y\) are east and north coordinates, respectively, with units of kilometers. You're standing at the spot \((3~\mathrm{km},2~\mathrm{km})\) and there is a cottage located at \((1~\mathrm{km}, 2~\mathrm{km})\). You drop your water bottle and the water spills out.
assignment Homework
The function \(\theta(x)\) (the Heaviside or unit step function) is a defined as: \begin{equation} \theta(x) =\begin{cases} 1 & \textrm{for}\; x>0 \\ 0 & \textrm{for}\; x<0 \end{cases} \end{equation} This function is discontinuous at \(x=0\) and is generally taken to have a value of \(\theta(0)=1/2\).
Make sketches of the following functions, by hand, on axes with the same scale and domain. Briefly describe, using good scientific writing that includes both words and equations, the role that the number two plays in the shape of each graph: \begin{align} y &= \theta (x)\\ y &= 2+\theta (x)\\ y &= \theta(2+x)\\ y &= 2\theta (x)\\ y &= \theta (2x) \end{align}
assignment Homework
assignment Homework
computer Computer Simulation
30 min.
In this course, two of the primary examples we will be using are the potential due to gravity and the potential due to an electric charge. Both of these forces vary like \(\frac{1}{r}\), so they will have many, many similarities. Most of the calculations we do for the one case will be true for the other. But there are some extremely important differences: