kim (hk9297) HW2-b li (55120)

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002 (part 1 of 4) 10.0 points

As you work with Coulombs law, you will
often find youd like to approximate expressions such as

001 10.0 points

Consider the setup shown in the figure.

1
for s r .
(r + s)2
Fortunately, there is an approximation
method for this type of expression that is incredibly common and is used throughout the
sciences. We will call this method the small
argument approximation, and its statement is:
(1 + )a 1 + a for 1 ,

(1 + )a 1 a for 1 .

Determine the force exerted by -Q on the

dipole. Choose the correct expression for the
force. + sign is along the positive x-direction.
2qsQ
z2
2qsQ
2. k
z3
2qsQ
3. + k
z2
qsQ
4. k 2
z
qsQ
5. + k 3
z
qsQ
6. + k 2
z
2qsQ
7. + k
correct
z3
qsQ
8. k 3
z
Explanation:
According to the reciprocity relation, i.e.
the action force is equal and opposite to the
reaction force, the force due to the charge Q on the dipole is equal in magnitude and
opposite in direction to the force due to the
dipole acting on the charge -Q. Thus for the
former we have


2qsQ
+k2qs
F = (Q)
= +k
.
3
z
z3
1. k

Using this approximation method,

1
1
= (r + s)2 = 2 (1 + s/r)2
2
(r + s)
r
1
2 (1 2s/r) for s r ,
r
where s/r = satisfies the condition that
1.

For each of the exercises below, assume

x 1 and apply the small argument approximation to determine the correct approximate
expression.
f (x) =

1
(1 + x)2

1. 1 + 2x
2. 1 x2
3. 1 + x2
4. 1 2x correct

Explanation:

f (x) = (1 + x)2 1 2x.

003 (part 2 of 4) 10.0 points
f (x) =

1
1 + x2

kim (hk9297) HW2-b li (55120)


1
2.
1+
9

1
1+
3.
9

1
1
4.
9

1. 1 + x2
2. 1 x2 correct
3. 1 x
4. 1 + x

f (x) = (1 + x2 )1 = (1 + )1
1 = 1 x2 .
004 (part 3 of 4) 10.0 points
s
1
f (x) =
1 + x2
1
1. 1 + x2
2
1
2. 1 x
2
1
3. 1 x2 correct
2
1
4. 1 + x
2

1
1
1 x.
2
1+x

Substituting this into the original expression

and simplifying, we obtain
1
1
1
=

.
2
(3 x)
9 1 x 2
3

For the second approximation,

1

2
x.

1
+


2
3
1 x3

Again substituting, we obtain the answer:



2
1
1+ x .
f (x)
9
3

Explanation:
Let = x2 .
f (x) = (1 + x2 )1/2 = (1 + )1/2
1
1
1 = 1 x2 .
2
2
005 (part 4 of 4) 10.0 points
One may approximate more complex expressions through successive application of the
small argument approximation. Approximate
the following expression by using the small
argument approximation twice.



1
1
1 x
1.
9
3


1
x
3

2
x correct
3

2
x
3

Explanation:
For the first approximation,

Explanation:
Let = x2 .

f (x) = 

1
1+

2
1+x

2

006 (part 1 of 3) 10.0 points

A 1.87 C charge is at the origin and a
11.08 C charge is 10 cm to the right, as
shown.
I y
II
III
O
1.87 C 11.08 C
10 cm

~ in the reIdentify the direction of E

gion II (0 < x < 10 cm, along the xaxis). The value of the Coulomb constant
is 8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 .
1. Left
2. All possibilities: right, left, or zero
3. Up

kim (hk9297) HW2-b li (55120)

q2 = 11.08 C ,
a = 10 cm .

4. Down
5. Right correct

6. None of these

q1 = 1.87 C ,
q2 = 11.08 C ,
a = 10 cm .

and

The direction of the electric field at a point

P is the direction that a positive charge would
move if placed at P . A positive charge placed
in region II would be attracted to q2 and
repelled by q1 , so the direction is to the right.
007 (part 2 of 3) 10.0 points
~ in region III (x >
Identify the direction of E
10 cm along the x-axis).
1. Left correct
2. All possibilities: right, left, or zero
3. Up
4. None of these
5. Down
6. Right
Explanation:
In region III, a positive charge would be
forced to the left since |q2 | > |q1 | and q2 is
closer to region III. The effect of q2 dominates
and the direction of the electric field is to the
left.
008 (part 3 of 3) 10.0 points
~ = 0.
Determine the x-coordinate where E
Correct answer: 6.97272 cm.
Explanation:
Let :

q1 = 1.87 C ,

II

y
q1

Explanation:
Let :

III
q2

and

We have already seen that the electric field

is nonzero in regions II and III. Thus the only
candidate is region I (negative x-axis).
~ = 0 is the point where
The point where E
the magnitudes are equivalent and the direc~ 1 = E
~ 2 . If the point
tion is opposite; i.e., E
where this happens is x = c, then
k q2
k q1
=
2
c
(c a)2

2
ca
q2
=
c
q1
r
q2
a
1 =
c
q1
a
c= r
q2
1
q1
0.1 m
= r
1.108 105 C

1
1.87 106 C
= 0.0697272 m or 0.0291192 m .
The answer must fall in region I. The solution at 2.91192 cm is extraneous, since the
electric field is always positive in region II.
~ = 0 at x = c = 6.97272 cm in region I.
E