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6.641 Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Spring 2009

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 6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion
Prof. Markus Zahn
Lecture 11: Solutions to Laplace’s Equation In Polar and Spherical
Coordinates

I. Solution’s to Laplace’s Equation in Polar Coordinates ⎛⎜ ∂ = 0 ⎞⎟

⎝ ∂z ⎠

A. Product Solution

1 ∂ ⎛ ∂Φ ⎞ 1 ∂2Φ ∂2Φ
∇2Φ = ⎜ r ⎟ + 2 2
+ = 0
r ∂ r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ r ∂φ ∂z2

Φ (r, φ ) = R (r ) F ( φ )

M ultiply through
F (φ ) d ⎛ dR ⎞ R (r ) d2F
r dr ⎜ r dr ⎟ + =0
by
r2
⎝ ⎠ r 2 dφ 2
R (r ) F ( φ )

r d ⎛ dR ⎞ 1 d2F
r + =0
R dr ⎜⎝ dr ⎟⎠ F dφ 2

m2 -m2

r d ⎛ dR ⎞ d ⎛ dR ⎞
= m2 ⇒ ⎜ r dr ⎟ − m R = 0
2
r r
R dr ⎜⎝ dr ⎟⎠ dr ⎝ ⎠

1 d2 F d2 F
2
= − m2 ⇒ + m 2F = 0
F dφ dφ 2

Haus / Melcher

Courtesy of Hermann A. Haus and James R. Melcher. Used with permission.

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Lecture 11

Prof. Markus Zahn Page 1 of 8
 B. m=0 Solutions (Zero Separation Constant Solutions)

dR
r =
C ⇒ R = C ln r + D
dr

d2F
= 0 ⇒ F = A φ + Β

dφ 2

Potential of line charge

Φ (r, φ ) = R (r ) F ( φ ) = A 1 + A 2 φ + A 3ln r + A 4 φln r

Φ ( φ = 0 ) = 0 ⎫⎪ V0 φ ⎡− ∂Φ −
1 ∂Φ −
∂Φ ⎤
⎬ ⇒ Φ (φ ) = ⇒ E = − ∇Φ = − ⎢ir + iφ + iz
Φ ( φ = α ) = V0 ⎪⎭ α ⎣ ∂r r ∂φ ∂z ⎥⎦
1 ∂Φ V0
Eφ = − =−
r ∂φ αr

ε 0 V0
σ s (r, φ = 0 ) = ε 0 E φ (r, φ = 0 ) = −
α r

ε 0 V0

σ s (r, φ = α ) = − ε 0 E φ (r, φ = α ) = +
αr

C. m≠0 Solutions (Non−Zero Separation Constant Solutions)

d ⎛ dR ⎞ d2F
r r − m2R = 0 + m2F = 0
dr ⎜⎝ dr ⎟⎠ dφ2

Try R = Ar n F = A 1 sin m φ + A 2 cos m φ

d
r ⎡nArn ⎤⎦ − m2 Arn = 0
dr ⎣

n2rn − m2rn = 0 ⇒ n = ± m

R (r ) = A 3r m + A 4r -m

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Lecture 11

Prof. Markus Zahn Page 2 of 8
 Φ (r, φ ) = R (r ) F ( φ ) = ⎡A
⎣ 1 sin m φ + A 2 cos m φ⎤⎦ ⎡⎣ A 3r + A 4r ⎤⎦
m -m

= A sin m φr m + B sin m φr -m + C cos m φr m + D cos m φr -m

D. Selected Solutions

m=1

Φ (r, φ ) = Ar sin φ = Ay

Φ (r, φ ) = Cr cos φ = Cx

B sin φ
Φ (r, φ ) = ⇒ Line
r
dipole oriented in y
direction

D cos φ
Φ (r, φ ) = ⇒ Line
r
dipole oriented in x
direction

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Lecture 11

Prof. Markus Zahn Page 3 of 8
 m=2

Φ = Ar 2 sin 2 φ = 2Ar 2 sin φ cos φ = 2Αxy

Generally m an integer if Φ ( φ = 0 ) = Φ ( φ = 2 π )

E. Grounded Cylinder in a Uniform y Directed Electric Field

⎡ A⎤
Φ = ⎢− E 0r + ⎥ sin φ r ≥R
⎣ r ⎦

A
Φ (r = R, φ ) = 0 ⇒ − E0R + = 0 ⇒ A = E 0R 2
R

⎛ R2 ⎞
Φ = − E0 ⎜ r − ⎟ sin φ r ≥R
⎝ r ⎠

0
⎡ ∂Φ − 1 ∂Φ − ∂Φ − ⎤
E = −∇Φ = − ⎢ ir + iφ + i
⎣ ∂r r ∂φ ∂ z z ⎥⎦

⎧⎪ ⎡ R2 ⎤ − ⎡ R2 ⎤ − ⎫
⎪
= E 0 ⎨ ⎢1 + 2 ⎥ sin φ i r − ⎢1 − 2 ⎥ cos φ i φ ⎬ r > R

⎪⎩ ⎣ r ⎦ ⎣ r ⎦ ⎭⎪

0
σ s (r = R , φ ) = ε 0 ⎡E
⎣ r (r = R + , φ ) − E r (r = R - , φ ) ⎦⎤ = 2 ε 0 E 0 sin φ

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Lecture 11

Prof. Markus Zahn Page 4 of 8
 II. Solutions to Laplace’s Equation in Spherical Coordinates ⎛⎜ ∂ = 0 ⎞⎟
⎝ ∂φ ⎠

A. Product Solution
0
2 1 ∂ ⎛ 2 ∂Φ ⎞ 1 ∂ ⎛ ∂Φ ⎞ 1 ∂2Φ
∇ Φ= 2 ⎜ r ⎟ + 2 ⎜ sin θ ⎟ + 2 =0
r ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ r sin θ ∂θ ⎝ ∂θ ⎠ r sin θ ∂φ 2
2

Φ (r, θ ) = R (r ) Θ ( θ )

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Lecture 11

Prof. Markus Zahn Page 5 of 8
 M ultiply through
Θ (θ ) d ⎛ 2 dR ⎞ R d ⎛ dΘ ⎞
⎜ r dr ⎟ + 2 ⎜ sin θ dθ ⎟ = 0 by
r2
r 2 dr ⎝ ⎠ r sin θ dθ ⎝ ⎠
R (r ) Θ ( θ )

1 d ⎛ 2 dR ⎞ 1 d ⎛ dΘ ⎞
r + sin θ =0
R dr ⎜⎝ dr ⎟⎠ Θ sin θ dθ ⎜⎝ dθ ⎟⎠

n(n+1) -n(n+1)

d ⎛ 2 dR ⎞
dr ⎜ r dr ⎟ − n (n + 1 ) R = 0
⎝ ⎠

Try R = A r p

Ap (p + 1 ) r p − n (n + 1 ) Ar p = 0 ⇒ p = n, − (n + 1 )

R (r ) = Ar n + Br
- (n+1 )

d ⎛ dΘ ⎞
sin θ + n (n + 1 ) sin θ Θ = 0 [Legendre’s Equation]
d θ ⎜⎝ d θ ⎟⎠

In 6.641, only responsible for n=1 solution

⇒ Θ ( θ ) = cos θ

Φ = Ar cos θ = Az is potential of uniform z directed electric field

B cos θ is potential of point electric dipole

Φ =
r2

n=1

⎛ B ⎞
Φ (r, θ ) = ⎜ Ar + 2 ⎟ cos θ

⎝ r ⎠

B. Grounded Sphere in a Uniform z Directed Electric Field

z = r cos θ

− −
∂ −
1 ∂ − −
∇z = i z = ∇ (r cos θ ) = i r (r cos θ) + i θ (r cos θ) = i r cos θ − i θ sin θ
∂r r ∂θ

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Lecture 11

Prof. Markus Zahn Page 6 of 8
 r ≥R

A cos θ
Φ (r, θ ) = − E 0r cos θ +
r
2

⎛ A ⎞
Φ (r = R, θ ) = 0 = ⎜ − E 0R + 2 ⎟ cos θ ⇒ A = E 0R 3

⎝ R ⎠

⎛ R3 ⎞
Φ (r, θ ) = − E 0 ⎜ r − 2 ⎟ cos θ r ≥ R

⎝ r ⎠

⎡ ∂Φ − 1 ∂Φ − ⎤
E = − ∇Φ = − ⎢ ir + i
⎣ ∂r r ∂θ θ ⎥⎦

⎡⎛ 2R 3 ⎞ − ⎛ R3 ⎞ − ⎤
= E0 ⎢⎜ 1 + 3 i ⎟ cos θ r − ⎜1 − 3 ⎟ siniθ θ ⎥
⎢⎣⎝ r ⎠ ⎝ r ⎠ ⎥⎦

σ s (r = R, θ ) = ε 0E r (r = R , θ ) = 3 ε 0 E 0 cos θ

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Lecture 11

Prof. Markus Zahn Page 7 of 8
6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Lecture 11
Prof. Markus Zahn Page 8 of 8