Question

Hello, I'm confused when it comes to the difference between discrete charge distribution and continuous charge distribution. Can someone help please?

Answer 1

there is really no difference except how hard it is to solve problems involving the effects of the charges (forces, fields, etc). Discrete charge assemblages are easily handled by considering each individually, but with thousands or millions or more charges, it's far more efficient to use calculus than to calculate one at a time

Answer 2

The diffrence is very much similar to case where atoms/molecules of any gas are at considerable distance from each other i.e. every molecule spatially can be treated at seprate entity ..while when u move these moluecule closer and make what we call a liquid where molecules are just like discrete charges while liquid formed by bringing them toghter is a stuff similar to continuous case of charges

Answer 3

Effectively, all charge distributions are discrete, since charge is itself discrete. In some cases, when the distance to the charge distribution is large comparable to the charged object, meaning that when you're enough far away that the presence of a charge in this place will not disturb or alter the charge distribution, you may then consider that a continuous charge distribution.

Answer 4

a discrete charge disribution is something like a certain no. of charges scattered in space whereas a continuous charge distribution can be something like a charged disc or a charged sphere having charges throughout its surface or volume