kQ  1 1  a

21.105: a) For a rod in general of length L, E     and here r  x  .

L r Lr 2
kQ  1 1  2kQ  1 1 
So, E left rod  L  x  a 2  L  x  a 2   L  2 x  a  2 L  2 x  a .
   
La 2 EQ 2kQ 2 La 2
b)  dF  dq E  F   E dq   dx   
a 2 L L2 a 2

 1 1 
   dx
 2 x  a 2L  2 x  a 

F
2kQ 2 1
L2 2

[ln (a  2 x)]aL 2a 2  [ln(2 L  2 x  a)]aL 2a 2 
kQ 2   a  2 L  a   2 L  2a   kQ 2  ( a  L) 2 
 F  2 1n       2 1n  .
L  2a   4 L  2a   L  a ( a  2 L) 
kQ 2  a 2 (1  L a) 2  kQ 2
c) For a  L : F  1n  2   2 (2 1n (1  2 L a)  ln(1  2 L a))
L2  a (1  2 L a)  L
kQ 2   L L2   2 L 2 L2  kQ 2
F  2                 F  .
L2   a 2a 2   a
  a2 
 a2

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