12.

11 Laplace’s Equation in Cylindrical and Spherical co-ordinates, Potential:

Laplace’s Equation:
The three dimensional Laplace equation is
 2u  u xx  u yy  u zz  0 (1)
The expression  2u is known as Laplacian of u ( x, y, z ) .
The theory of solution of Laplace’s equation is called potential theory and the solution of Laplace
equation that have continuous second order partial derivatives is known as Harmonic function.
Laplacian in Cylindrical co-ordinates:
The Cylindrical co-ordinates r , and z are related to Cartesian co-ordinates x, y and z by
x  r cos , y  r sin  and z  z
 r  x2  y 2
Using Chain rule we can obtain uxx , u yy and uzz . Substituting uxx , u yy and uzz in Equation (1) we find
the Laplacian in Cylindrical co-ordinates.
The Laplacian in Cylindrical co-ordinates is given by
1 1
 2u  urr  ur  2 u  u zz
r r
Laplacian in Spherical co-ordinates:
The Spherical co-ordinates r ,  and  are related to x, y and z by
x  r cos sin  , y  r sin  sin  and z  r cos

 y  
 r  x 2  y 2  z 2 ,   tan 1  and   cos1 
z
 
x  
 x y z 
2 2 2

Using Chain rule we can obtain uxx , u yy and uzz . Substituting uxx , u yy and uzz in Equation (1) we find
the Laplacian in Spherical co-ordinates.
The Laplacian in Spherical co-ordinates is given by
2 1 cot  1
 2u  urr  ur  2 u  2 u  2 2 u
r r r r sin 
This can be also written as
1    2 u  1   u  1  2u 
 2u    r   
 sin    
r 2  r  r  sin      sin 2   2 

Problem Set-12.11

Q.8-Q.13:
c
Q.8) Verify that the potential u  , r  x 2  y 2  z 2 satisfies Laplace’s equation in spherical co-
r
ordinates.
Solution: The Laplace equation in spherical co-ordinates is
2 1 cot  1
 2u  urr  ur  2 u  2 u  2 2 u  0
r r r r sin 
Since u depends only on r , so u  u  u  0
Hence Laplace equation becomes
2
 2u  urr  ur  0
r
 c c 2c
,  ur   2 and urr  3
It is given that u 
r r r
2 2c 2  c 
 urr  ur  3    2   0
r r r r 
c
Hence u  satisfies Laplace’s equation when u depends only on r  x 2  y 2  z 2 .
r
Q.9) Show that the only solution of Laplace’s equation depending only on r  x 2  y 2  z 2 is
c
u  k with constants c and k .
r
Solution: The Laplace equation in spherical co-ordinates is
2 1 cot  1
 2u  urr  ur  2 u  2 u  2 2 u  0
r r r r sin 
Since u depends only on r , so u  u  u  0
Hence Laplace equation becomes
2
 2u  urr  ur  0
r
 2
 (ur )   ur , Let ur  p
r r
p 2p p r
    2 
r r p r
 ln p  2 ln r  ln c1
c1
 p
r2
u c1 1
  ,   u  c1  dr
r r 2 r2
c1 c
u  k  k
r r
c
Hence the only solution of Laplace’s equation depending only on r  x 2  y 2  z 2 is u  k
r
with constants c and k .

Q.10) Show that the only solution of Laplace’s equation depending only on r  x 2  y 2 is
u  c ln r  k with constants c and k .
Solution: The Laplace’s equation in cylindrical co-ordinates is given by
1 1
 2u  urr  ur  2 u  u zz  0
r r
If it depends only on r  x 2  y 2 then u  u zz  0 and Laplace’s equation reduces to
1
 2u  urr  ur  0
r
1
urr  ur  0
r
 1
 (ur )   ur
r r
 p p
Let p  ur ,  
r r
p r
  
p r
 ln p   ln r  ln c
c u
 p 
r r
r
  u  c 
r
 u (r )  c ln r  k
Hence the only solution of Laplace’s equation depending only on r  x 2  y 2 is u  c ln r  k with
constants c and k .
Q.12) Find the electrostatic potential between coaxial cylinders of radii r1  2cm and r2  4cm kept at
the potentials u1  220v and u2  140v respectively.

Solution: The Laplace’s equation depending only on r  x 2  y 2 in the cylindrical co-ordinate is

1
 2u  urr  ur  0
r
1
urr  ur  0
r
 1
 (ur )   ur
r r
p p
Let p  ur ,  
r r
p r
  
p r
 ln p   ln r  ln c
c u
 p 
r r
r
  u  c 
r
 u (r )  c ln r  k
The two boundary conditions are u1 (r1 )  u1 (2)  220 and u2 (r2 )  u2 (4)  140
We have the electrostatic potential u (r )  c ln r  k
Using u1 (r1 )  u1 (2)  220 we get
c ln 2  k  220 (2)
Again using the boundary condition u2 (r2 )  u2 (4)  140 we find
c ln 4  k  140 (3)
80
Solving (2) and (3) we obtain c   and k  300
ln 2
Hence the required electrostatic potential between two coaxial cylinders is
80
u (r )   ln r  300 .
ln 2