A spaceship encounters a single plane of charged particles, with the charge per unit area equal to σ. The electric field a short distance above the plane has magnitude ____ and is directed ____ to the plane.
A) , parallel
B) , perpendicular
C) , parallel
D) , perpendicular
E) , parallel

Question

A spaceship encounters a single plane of charged particles, with the charge per unit area equal to σ. The electric field a short distance above the plane has magnitude ____ and is directed ____ to the plane.
A) , parallel 
B) , perpendicular 
C) , parallel 
D) , perpendicular 
E) , parallel

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electric field due to an infinitely large and uniformly charged plane a distance h above the plane is given by E = σ/2ε0, where σ is the surface charge density of the plane and ε0 is the permittivity of free space. The electric field is perpendicular to the plane. Therefore, the correct choice is B.

A Spaceship Encounters a Single Plane of Charged Particles, with the Charge