Problem Sheet 3, PHY103A, part I

1a) A wire extended from −L to L along the x-axis R has1 a line charge distribution λ = λ0 (1 + xa ). Calculate the
electric field at a distance z = a above x = 0. Use (x2 +a2 )(3/2) dx = a2 √ax2 +x2
1b) Use Gauss law to calculate the electric field at any point√in space for a charge distribution that is independent
2 2
of z and is given in Cartesian coordinates by ρ(x, y) = ρ0 e−a x +y .
1c) Use Gauss law to calculate the√electric field at any point in space for the volume charge distribution given in
2 2 2
Cartesian coordinates by ρ = ρ0 e−a x +y +z .

2) A very long wire carries a uniform line charge density λ1 . A short wire of length 2L is kept parallel to it at a
distance d. Calculate the torque on the short wire due to the long one, with respect to an origin that is located on
the long wire and is closest to the middle of the short wire. What is the answer if you calculate the torque with
respect to an origin located on the long wire and closest to the lower end of the short wire ?

3a) A disc of radius R carries uniform charge density σ. Calculate the electric potential at any point on the rim of
the disc.
3b) In the configuration of problem 3(a), calculate the electrostatic energy of the disc.

4a) A spherical surface subtended by the base of a cone of height H and tip angle 900 carries a uniform charge
density σ. What is the potential difference between the tip of the cone and the center of the base ?
4b) The space between two concentric spheres of radii R1 and R2 (R2 > R1 ) is filled with material that has uniform
charge density so that the total charge is Q. Calculate the electrostatic energy of this configuration. You may skip
the final algebra.

Useful Formulae :
In spherical polar coordinates :
~ = r̂ ∂f + θ̂ 1 ∂f + φ̂ 1 ∂f
∇f
∂r r ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ
~ ·A
∇ ~ = 1 ∂ (r2 Ar ) + 1 ∂ (sin θAθ ) + 1 ∂Aφ
r2 ∂r r sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ
     
~ ~ 1 ∂ ∂Aθ 1 1 ∂Ar ∂ 1 ∂ ∂Ar
∇×A= (sin θAφ ) − r̂ + − (rAφ ) θ̂ + (rAφ ) − θ̂
r sin θ ∂θ ∂φ r sin θ ∂φ ∂r r ∂r ∂θ
In cylindrical coordinates :
~ = ρ̂ ∂f + φ̂ 1 ∂f + ẑ ∂f
∇f
∂ρ ρ ∂φ ∂z
~ ·A
∇ ~ = 1 ∂ (ρAρ ) + 1 ∂Aφ + ∂Az
ρ ∂ρ ρ ∂φ ∂z
     
~ ~ 1 ∂A z ∂A φ ∂Aρ ∂Az 1 ∂ ∂Aρ
∇×A= − ρ̂ + − φ̂ + (ρAφ ) − k̂
ρ ∂φ ∂z ∂z ∂ρ ρ ∂ρ ∂φ