Electric Charges and Fields

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Types of continuous charged distributions:

1. Linear Charge Distribution
2. Volume Distribution of charge
3. Surface Charge Distribution

The linear charge density λ of a wire is defined by

where Δl is a small line element of wire on the macroscopic scale, ΔQ is the charge contained in that line element. The units for λ are C/m. 

The volume charge density is defined by,

where,
ΔQ is the charge
ΔV small volume element
The units for ρ are C/m³

When the charge distribution is over a particular area then the distribution is called as Surface charge distribution. It is denoted by σ.

where ΔS is an area element on the surface of a conductor and ΔQ is a charge on that element.The units for σ are C/m².