Question

1.) Consider a very long, straight wire of uniform positive charge density. In the space below, describe the electric field of the wire. In particular, what direction does it point? Does its strength depend on position? If so, how? Note any symmetries of interest.

2.) Use the understanding of electric fields you developed above to deduce the electric field at the center of a circular loop of wire (radius R) with the same positive uniform charge density. Specifically, is it:

a. Zero

b. The same magnitude as the electric field a distance R from a straight wire

c. Larger than the electric field a distance R from a straight wire

d. Smaller than the electric field a distance R from a straight wire

3.) Explain how you arrived at your answer. Qualitative arguments are encouraged.

Answer 1

1) The electric field will be in circles around the wire.The dirction will be clockwise or counterclockwise according to the right hand curl rule.

Yes, the field depends on the position. It varies inversely to the square of the distance from the wire.