Question

an airplane is flying through a thundercloud at a height of 2000m (this is very dangerous thing to do because of updrafts, turbulence, and the possibility of electric discharge). If there are charge concentrations of 40.0 C at a height of 3000 m within the cloud and of -40.0 C at a height of 1000m, what is the electric field E at the aircraft?

Answer 1

Answer

In this question we have given,

Height of plane, h1=2000m

Height at which charge concentration is 40C, h2=3000m

Height at which charge concentration is -40C, h3=1000m

charge concentaration, q1=40C

charge concentaration, q2=-40C

let the charge concentrations at height h2 and h3 as point charges

Now we will first find the electric feild on plane due to positive charge q1=40

$E1= k*q1/(h1-h2)..............(1)$

Here k=8.98755*10^9N.m^2/C^2

q1=40C

put values of k, q1 , h1 and h2 in equation 1

$[tex]E1=(8.98755*10^9)*(40)/(2000-3000)^2$\\

$E1=[tex]E= 359502+359502\\E=719004 V/m$V/m[/tex]

similarly electric feild due to negative charge q2=-40

$[tex]E2=(8.98755*10^9)*(-40)/(2000-1000)^2$\\

$E2=359502V/m$

Total electric feild E at the aircraft is given as

$E= E1+ E2$...............(2)

Put values of  E1 and E2 in equation2

$\\E=359502+359502\\E= 719004V/m$

therefore s Total electric feild E at the aircraft is E= 719004V/m