57

2. consider an infinitely long coaxial cable if inner radius "a" and

outer radius "b" . The inner conductor has a potential
o
V
while the
outer conductor has zero potential. Use
Laplace's equation to obtainV , D , E at a
mid-point between the two cylinders and the
capacitance of the system. Lapalace's equation
in cylindrical coordinates is:
0
1
) (
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
=

=
z
V V V
V

From the symmetry of the problem the potential is constant along
the

and z directions. Accordingly;

0 ) (
1
=

V
(*)
The boundary conditions are:
o
V a V = ) (
and
0 ) ( = b V

Solution of differential equation (*) is:
A
V
=

=

A V

B A V + = ln ) (

Applying boundary condition 1:
B a A V a V + = = ln ) (
0

Applying boundary condition 2:
B b A b V + = = ln 0 ) (

Solving the above equations for a and b, one obtains
) / ln(
0
b a
V
A =
and
) ln(
) / ln(
0
b
b a
V
B

=

Therefore
) / ln(
) / ln(
) (
0
b a
b V
V

=

To obtain E one use

= = a
V
V E

= a
a b
V
E
o

) / ln(
1

= = a
a b
V
E D
o

) / ln(
1
and
a D length unit Q
a n
=
=
2 | /
for a length L
) / ln(
2
a b
a
a
L V
Q
o

=
which gives
) / ln(
2
a b
L
V
Q
C
o

= =

0 = V
o
V V =

a
b
58
3. Consider two infinite radial conducting planes with an interior
angle

. An infinitesimal insulating gap exists at

0 =
. The
boundary conditions are, 0 = V at
0 =
and
o
V V =
at
=
. Find
the potential distribution between the two planes.
From the geometry of the problem
the potential is only a function of

therefore Laplace's equation
is reduced to

0
1
2
2
2
=

V

which can be written as
0
2
2
=

V

the solution is
B A V + =

the boundary condition is :
0 ) 0 ( = V
and
o
V V = ) (

applying the first boundary condition, one obtains 0 = B
second boundary condition gives

=
o
V
A

Thus

=
o
V V ) (

To obtain E , we use V E =
In cylindrical coordinates

= a
V
E
1

Thus

= a
V
E
o


And

= = a
V
E D
o

=
=
o
V V
0
0
=
= V

z
59
4. Consider two conducting concentric spheres of radii "a" and "b"
where b>a. The boundary conditions are 0 = V at b r = and
o
V V =
at a r = . The medium between the two spheres has a
permittivity . Find the potential distribution, the electric field and
the capacitance of the system.
Laplace's equation in spherical coordinates is,
0
sin
1
) (sin
sin
1
) (
1
2
2
2 2 2
2
2
2
=

=
V
r
V
r r
V
r
r r
V
From the symmetry of the problem there is no
variation in and

directions, therefore the differential equation is

0 ) (
1
2
2
2
=

=
r
V
r
r r
V

differentiating once,
A
r
V
r =

2

2
r
A
r
V
=

, differentiating

B
r
A
r V + = ) (
applying the boundary conditions, one obtains
0 ) ( = + = B
b
A
b V
and o
V B
a
A
a V = + = ) (
thus solving the two
equations we get
b a
o
V
A
1 1

=
and
b
A
B =

thus
b a
b r
o
V r V
1 1
1 1
) (

=

To obtain E , we use V E =
r
a
r
V
E

=

Thus r
b a
o
a
r
V
E
1
1 1
2

=
and r
b a
o
a
r
V
D
1 1
2

=

Then
b a
o
a
a
V
Q
1 1
2
2
4

=
and
b a
C
1 1
4

=


0 = V
o
V V =

a
b
60
5. Consider a conducting cone
=
at
o
V
and the plane 2 / =
at 0 = V . Find potential distribution and capacitance per unit length.
From the symmetry of the problem the
potential only vary in

direction. Accordingly
Laplace's equation reduces to

0 ) (sin
sin
1
2
2
=

=
V
r
V

Thus the differential equation is

0 ) (sin =

V
Differentiating once
A
V
=

sin

Then differentiating one more time we obtain,
B A V +

= )
2
ln(tan ) (

Applying the boundary conditions :
0 )
4
ln(tan ) (
2
= +

B A V
0 = B
Thus
)
2
ln(tan ) (

= A V
and o
V A V =

= )
2
ln(tan ) (

Accordingly,
)
2
ln(tan

=
o
V
A
that gives
)
2
ln(tan
)
2
ln(tan
) (

=
o
V V

To obtain E , we use V E =

= a
V
r
E
1

Thus

= a
r
V
E
o

) ln(tan sin
2
and s
o
n
r
V
D =

=

) ln(tan sin
2

Then
) ln(cot
2 sin
) ln(tan sin
2 0
2
0 2

=

L V
r
dr d r V
Q
o
L
o

And
) ln(cot
2
2

= =
L
V
Q
C
o

o
V V =
0 = V
z
gap