The surface charge density of a thin charged disc of radius $\mathrm{R}$ is $\sigma$. The value of the…

The surface charge density of a thin charged disc of radius $\mathrm{R}$ is $\sigma$. The value of the electric field at the centre of the disc is $\frac{\sigma}{2 \in_0}$. With respect to the field at the centre, the electric field along the axis at a distance $\mathrm{R}$ from the centre of the disc:
  1. reduces by $70.7 \%$
  2. reduces by $29.3 \%$
  3. reduces by $9.7 \%$
  4. reduces by $14.6 \%$

Solution

Electric field intensity at the centre of the disc. $ \mathrm{E}=\frac{\sigma}{2 \epsilon_0} \quad \text { (given) } $ Electric field along the axis at any distance $x$ from the centre of the disc $ \mathrm{E}^{\prime}=\frac{\sigma}{2 \epsilon_0}\left(1-\frac{\mathrm{x}}{\sqrt{\mathrm{x}^2+\mathrm{R}^2}}\right) $ From question, $\mathrm{x}=\mathrm{R}$ (radius of disc) $ \begin{aligned} \therefore \mathrm{E}^{\prime} &=\frac{\sigma}{2 \epsilon_0}\left(1-\frac{\mathrm{R}}{\sqrt{\mathrm{R}^2+\mathrm{R}^2}}\right) \\ &=\frac{\sigma}{2 \epsilon_0}\left(\frac{\sqrt{2} \mathrm{R}-\mathrm{R}}{\sqrt{2} \mathrm{R}}\right) \end{aligned} $ $ =\frac{4}{14} \mathrm{E} $ $\therefore \%$ reduction in the value of electric field $ =\frac{\left(E-\frac{4}{14} E\right) \times 100}{E}=\frac{1000}{14} \%=70.7 \% $

Asked in: JEE Main 2013 (25 Apr Online)

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