The electric field at the centre of a semi-circular arc of radius 'r', which is charged uniformly and has linear charge density $\lambda$ is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → $\frac{\lambda}{2 \pi \varepsilon_0 r}$
Semi-circular are has a linear charge density λ, so the total charge on the arc -
$Q=λL=λπr$
and,
$dE=\frac{Kλrdθ}{r^2}=\frac{Kλdθ}{r}$
$∴dE_y=dE\sin θ=\frac{Kλdθ}{r}\sin θ$
Hence,
$\int dE_y=\int\limits_{-π/2}^{π/2}\frac{Kλ\sin θ}{r}dθ$
On evaluating the limits,
$E_y=0$
But, $E_x=\frac{Kλ}{r}\int\limits_{-π/2}^{π/2}\cos θ\,dθ$
$=\frac{Kλ}{r}\left[\sin θ\right]_{-π/2}^{π/2}$
$=\frac{Kλ}{r}\left[\sin\left(\frac{π}{2}\right)-\sin\left(-\frac{π}{2}\right)\right]$
$=\frac{2Kλ}{r}$