All About Continuous Charge Distribution

The universe is governed by various aspects such as force, acceleration, energy and charged particles. Each charged particle develops a unique electric field on the earth in the space surrounding it. The electric field developed because the charge is independent of the absence or presence of all different charges.

 +e or –e is the smallest form of charge we can ever obtain. It is the proton’s charge or an electron; therefore, these charges are quantised. The continuous charge distribution means that all the charges are closely packed together and have little space between them. 

The distribution of individual charges over a region is said to be charge distribution. When this distribution is unbroken and continuous, it is called a continuous charge distribution. Continuous charge distribution can be classified into three main types. These are: linear charge distribution, surface charge distribution and volume charge distribution. All these types of continuous charge distributions involve various aspects according to which the charged particles are distributed in a particle. 

Before diving into the understanding of these three types of continuous charge distributions, it is essential to know what charge distribution is. The below sections will proceed in understanding what charge is, what  charge distribution is, and its three types.

What Is Charge In Physics?

Charge in physics, refers to the electric charge which is conserved. Charge determines the electromagnetic interaction of the particles. These charges are present in an Electrical field, creating magnetic and electric areas, called electromagnetic fields. These electric charges can be either positive or negative. These charges consist of electrons and protons.

When two objects consist of the same charges (either positive or negative), they repel. When the two objects consist of opposite charges, the objects attract each other. There are different charges in particles that make up an atom. These particles are electrons and protons. Electrons and protons have charges while neutrons remain with null charges. Electrons consist of negative charge, protons consist of positive charge and neutrons have zero charge. 

Charge is conserved and constant in closed objects, nuclear reactions or chemical reactions. The SI unit to measure charge is coulomb, which is defined as the net charge that flows through a conductor in the given time period. The units of charge are naturally determined. There is no difference in these electric charge accumulations in electrons or protons. They are the same across different electrons and protons. 

Charges are never static except when they are in closed reactions or figures. Charges continue to move and this phenomenon is named as continuous charge distribution. This is explained in detail in the next section.

What Is Continuous Charge Distribution?

Charges divide themselves over various aspects such as line, surface and volume. This division, however, keeps the number of charges closely bonded with each other. The space between these charges is very narrow, which prevents the long-term movement of these charges. There can be discrete or the same system of charge. Same system of charge refers to  grouping of like charges. Discrete system of charge refers to the grouping of different types of charges, namely positive or negative together. 

This concept of distribution of charge involves two other components that are the net electric field and net force. The continuous charge distribution means that all the charges are closely packed together and have little space between them. Further, there are three different ways in which these charges are distributed. The net force refers to the pressure by which the charges distribute overtime and to the distance as well. It is the net pressure that moves the charges from one place to another. 

In this distribution of charges, the charges are always segregated uniformly. Charges are also distributed infinitely over a small area. The process of charge distribution is highly uninterrupted and continuous. 

The continuous distribution of charges can be classified into three types. These are- linear charge distribution, surface charge distribution and volume charge distribution. These are further elaborated in the next section.

Types Of Continuous Charge Distribution

There are three types of continuous charge distribution: linear charge distribution, surface charge distribution and volume charge distribution.

Linear Charge Distribution

Linear charge distribution is a distribution of charge across the conductor uniformly in the line pattern. Linear charge distribution is denoted by the Greek letter Lambda. In this particular charge distribution there is a physical property termed as linear charge density. It refers to how the charges are distributed on the line and in what quantity. 

Surface Charge Distribution

Surface charge distribution is a distribution of the charges across a surface or an area. In this type of charge distribution, the charges are scattered uniformly across the surface or the area. This type of charge distribution involves the surface charge density. Here, the amount of charges distributed and the density of them is undertaken.

Volume Charge Distribution

This type of charge distribution involves the distribution of charges across a volume continuously. It tries indicating how the charges can be distributed in volume and does it either uniformly or non-uniformly. In this type of charge distribution, the volume charge density is undertaken. That is, the volume that these charged particles cover is calculated and understood. 

These are the three main types of charge distribution. These types are continuous in nature but differ based on the aspects they cover, that is the line surface and the area. A line charge distribution can create an area when it distributes charges overtime. Hence this leads to an area of distribution, if the charges are distributed over a period of time.

Conclusion

In the above information, there is a complete elucidation on what are charges, the charged distribution and the types of charged distribution. These include – linear charge distribution, surface charge distribution and volume charge distribution.