A2L Item 209

• Description: Identify the correct graph of the x-component of the electric field.
• Goal: Translate among representations
• Source: 283-341 graph Ex(y)
• Keywords: Electric Field, Electromagnetism, Graphing

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The question for students:

We have a charge configuration (shown at the right). Which graph below resembles the plot of the x component of the electric field, E_x(y), as you move along the y-axis?

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Commentary for teachers:

Answer

(6) The correct graph looks like the negative of graph #5. Some students pick #5 thinking that the magnitude of the field is desired.

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