1096 A sphere of radius @ has a bound charge @ distributed uniformly over its surface. The sphere is surrounded by a uniform fluid dielectric medium with fixed dielectric constant ¢ as in Fig. 1.52. The fluid also contains a free charge density given by pte) = -EV(e), where & is a constant and V(r) is the electric potential at r relative to infinity. (a) Compute the potential everywhere, letting V = 0 at r — oo. (b) Compute the pressure as function of r in the dielectric. (Princeton) Fig. 1.52 Solution: The electric potential satisfies Poisson's equation V(r) = —2 VO) sa @) € Considering the spherical symmetry of this problem, we have V(r) = V(r). Equation (1) then becomes aE(PH) 0, the solution is w= Aven (+E) Accordingly, A FE Ve Sep (aff). ‘The condition V = 0 for r — oo indicates that only the negative exponent is allowed. Gauss’ theorem for the spherical surfaces, ov ~$¢ Das=Q, f, ar 5=9 then determines the coefiicient A as ere Ge(eas1)’ where a = /E/e. On the other hand, as there is no electric field inside the sphere, the potential inside is a constant equal to the potential on the surface. Therefore eote=0) ven {* r>a, wade Sa. Stability of the fluid means that pu+n-T = const, where n = e,, T is Maxwell’s stress tensor. If the fluid is still, the constant is equal to zero and one has Tv. (Av)? 0 0 0 oo). 0 oo pe, As ¢ is fixed, we further have T=DE-1(D-EI= Hence, the pressure istar? p= —fevyy = SU te yr), (2) If k < 0, with 6? = —k/e, the solution of Eq. (2) becomes V(r) = with real part, B V(x) = = cos(r). ‘Substitution in Gauss’ theorem Q 4x(Basin Ba + cos Ba) * Hence the electric potential is 2 hair r>a, raBatan , rsa, and the pressure is p=-5(W)'= -§ gro tan br yar,