Volume charge density formula of sphere, cylinder

A three-dimensional conductor can have three types of charge distributions. These are Line charge distribution, surface charge distribution and volume charge distribution. Obviously, there will be three types of charge densities for these three distributions. In the other two articles, we have discussed the Linear charge density and surface charge density of different conductors. In this article, we’re going to discuss the definition and formula of volume charge density for different conductors like a sphere, a cylinder, etc.

Contents of this article:

  • Volume charge distribution
  • Volume density of charge
  • Symbol
  • Equation of Volume charge density
  • units
  • Dimension
  • Volume charge density formula of different conductors
  • Integral equation of charge density and charge

Volume charge distribution

In a three-dimensional (3D) conductor, electric charges can be present inside its volume. This type of distribution of electric charge inside the volume of a conductor is known as the volume charge distribution. A spherical conductor, a cylindrical conductor, etc. can have volume charge distribution.

What is volume charge density?

The volume charge density of a conductor is defined as the amount of charge stored per unit volume of the conductor. Only the conductors with a three-dimensional (3D) shape like a sphere, cylinder, cone, etc. can have volume charge density.

Symbol of Volume charge density

The volume density of charge is represented by the Greek letter rho (\color{Blue}\rho).

Volume charge density equation

If Q is the amount of charge inside a volume V of a conductor, then the formula for volume charge density of the conductor is, \color{Blue}\rho=\frac{Q}{V}…….(1)

This is the fundamental equation of volume density of electric charge. Since the formula of volume is different for different shapes, the formula of charge density inside the volume has different forms for conductors of different shapes. I have discussed these below.

Volume charge density unit

SI unit of electric charge is Coulomb (C) and of volume is m3. Therefore, the SI unit of volume density of charge is C.m-3 and the CGS unit is StatC.cm-3.

Dimension of Volume charge density

The dimension of electric charge is [TI] and the dimension of volume is [L3]. Then, the dimensional formula of volume charge density is [L-3TI].

Formula of Volume charge density of different conductors

As the volume is different for the conductors of different shapes, we will get different formulae for the volume density of charge for different shapes.

The volume charge density of a sphere

Charged sphere

If a spherical conductor of radius R contains Q amount of charge inside its volume, then the formula for the volume charge density of the sphere is, \color{Blue}\rho=\frac{Q}{\frac{4}{3}\pi R^{3}}………(2)

The volume charge density of a cylinder

If a cylindrical conductor of length L and radius r contains Q amount of charge inside its volume, then the formula of volume charge density of the cylinder is \color{Blue}\rho=\frac{Q}{\pi r^{2} L}……..(3)

Integral relation between charge and volume charge density

From the equation-(1), electric charge = volume charge density × volume

The integral form of this relation is, \color{Blue}Q = \int\rho .dV……..(4)

This is all from this article on the formula of volume charge density of a conductor. If you have any doubts on this topic you can ask me in the comment section.

Thank you!

Related posts:

  1. Line charge density
  2. Surface charge density
  3. Production of electric charge
  4. Continuous charge distribution