Assignment 2

PHY 2310: Electromagnetism in Light of Relativity

Aditya Malhotra
October 5, 2023

1. (a) Inside a uniformly charged sphere of radius, R, and charge, Q, the electric field is,
q
E= r̂ ∀r ≥ R
4πϵ0 r2
qr
E= r̂ ∀r ≤ R
4πϵ0 R3
The general formula for finding the potential at a point with respect to some reference point, O,
Z r
V =− E.dl
O

Thus for a point outside the sphere the reference point is taken to be at infinity and thus the potential
is,
Z r ′
q dr
V =−
4πϵ0 ∞ r′2
 r
q 1
=− − ′
4πϵ0 r ∞
q
∴V =
4πϵ0 r
For finding the potential inside the sphere the integral has to be split up to consider the electric field
for r > R and for r < R differently. Thus,
Z R ′ Z r
q dr q
V =− − r′ dr′
4πϵ0 ∞ r′2 4πϵ0 R
 ′2 r
q q r
= −
4πϵ0 R 4πϵ0 R3 2 R
q q
∴V = + (R2 − r2 )
4πϵ0 R 8πϵ0 R3

(b) The energy of a continuous charge distribution is equivalent to the work done in assembling the charge
distribution and is equal to, Z
ϵ0
W = E 2 dτ
2 all space
Where E is the electric field generated due to the charge distribution throughout space. This integral
has to be split it up since the electric field is not uniform for a uniform charge density distribution.

1
Assignment 2 2

Thus, the integral becomes,

Z  2 Z  2 
ϵ0 qr q
W = dτ + dτ
2 all space 4πϵ0 R3 all space 4πϵ0 r
2
Z 2π Z π Z R Z 2π Z π Z ∞
q2
 
1 4 1
= r sin θdrdθdϕ + sin θdrdθdϕ
32π 2 ϵ0 R6 0 0 0 0 0 R r
2

R ∞
q2 1 r5
     
1
= + −
8πϵ0 R6 5 0 r R
3 q2
∴W =
5 4πϵ0 R

(c) Consider an already existing sphere or radius, r with a charge q ′ . The work done (i.e., the energy of
the resulting configuration) in bringing a charge dq to increase the radius of the sphere by dr is,

q ′ dq
dW =
4πϵ0 r
The charge q ′ can be written in terms of the volume charge density as,
4
q ′ = ρ · πr3
3
dq ′ = ρ · 4πr2 dr

Thus the equation for work becomes,

4πρ2 r4
dW = dr
3ϵ0
Integrating this from 0 to R,

4πρ2 R 4
Z
W = r dr
3ϵ0 0
4πρ2 R5
=
15ϵ0
q
Replacing ρ = 4 3 the we get,
3 πR

9q 2 4πR5
W =
16π 2 R6 15ϵ0
3 q2
∴W =
5 4πϵ0 R
Both methods give the same answer for the energy of the configuration.
2. To find the force of repulsion between the “northern” and “southern” hemisphere of a charged conductor
we have to consider the average electric field of the conductor. The electric field inside the conductor is 0
but the electric field outside is,
Q
Eout = r̂
4πϵ0 r2
Thus the average electric field is the average of these 2 fields at the surface, i.e., r = R. Thus,
Q
Eavg = r̂
8πϵ0 R2
We also have to consider the force per unit area between the two hemispheres. Furthermore this force is
considered to be in the ẑ direction only. Thus,

Q2
fz = σ(Eavg )z = cos θ
32π 2 ϵ0 R4
Assignment 2 3

To find the force this has to be integrated over the volume,

Z
F = fz da

Q2
Z
= cos θR2 sin θdθdϕ
32π 2 ϵ0 R4
Z π/2 Z 2π
Q2
= cos θ sin θdθ dϕ
32π 2 ϵ0 R2 0 0
 2 π/2
Q2 sin θ
= 2 2
· 2π ·
32π ϵ0 R 2 0
Q2
∴F =
32πϵ0 R2

3. (a) Poisson’s equation for the gap between the cathode and the anode is,
ρ
∇2 V = −
ϵ0

(b) The principle of conservation of energy gives,

1
mv 2 − qV = 0
2 r
2qV
∴v=
m

(c) The charge density is,

Q
ρ=
τ
where τ is the volume which includes the charge density. Thus we have,

Q = ρτ
=⇒ dQ = ρdτ
=⇒ dQ = ρAdx
dQ dx
= ρA
dt dt
=⇒ I = ρAv

(d)

d2 V ρ
=−
dx2 ϵ0
1 I
=−
ϵ0 Av
r
I m
=−
ϵ0 A 2qV
d2 V 1
=⇒ = λV − 2
dx2
q
Here λ = − ϵ0IA m
2q .
Assignment 2 4

(e) Representing dV /dt = V ′ and multiplying with V ′ on both sides we get,

dV ′ 1 dV
V′ = λV − 2
Z dx Z dx
1
=⇒ V ′ dV ′ = λ V − 2 dV
2
V′ 1
=⇒ = 2λV 2 +C
2
At x = 0, both the potential and the field are 0 thus the constant C = 0. From the above relation,
2 1
V ′ = 4λV 2
dV √ 1
=⇒ = 2 λV 4
dx
Z
1 √ Z
=⇒ V − 4 dV = 2 λ dx
4 3 √
=⇒ V 4 = 2 λx
3
The constant of integration is 0 since at V (0) = 0. This gives us,
  32
9 4
V (x) = λ x3
4
 13
81I 2 m

4
∴ V (x) = x3
32ϵ20 A2 q
In terms of V0 and d it becomes,
  34
x
V = V0
d

d2 V
ρ = −ϵ0
dx2
 
d 4 1/3
1
= −ϵ0 V0 4/3 x
d dx 3
4ϵ0 V0
∴ρ=−
9(d2 x)2/3
r
2qv
v=
m
r   23
2qV0 x
∴v=
m d

(f) At x = d we have V (d) = V0 ,

1
81I 2 m 3 4

V0 = d3
32ϵ20 A2 q
81I 2 md4
=⇒ V03 =
32ϵ20 A2 q
32ϵ20 A2 q 3
=⇒ I 2 = 4
V0
81md
√ √
4 2ϵ0 A q 3/2
=⇒ I = √ V0
9 md2
3/2
∴ I = KV0
Assignment 2 5

The constant K is √ √
4 2ϵ0 A q
K= √ 2
9 md

4. The 0 of the potential can be set on the x − y plane far away from the sphere. However the first situation
that can be considered is an uncharged sphere kept in the same uniform electric field. The 0 of the potential
in this case can be set on the x − y plane at the centre of the uncharged sphere. The follows from the fact
that the surface of the surface is an equipotential surface and can be set at 0. However far from the sphere
the potential can be shown as,

−∇V = E
Z
=⇒ V = − E0 dz

=⇒ V = −E0 z + C

Since the potential is 0 at z = 0 we have the constant C = 0. Thus we have the boundary conditions as,

V =0 for r = R

V = −E0 r cos θ when r ≫ R

The general form of potential in spherical coordinates is,
∞  
X Bl
V = Al r l + Pl (cos θ)
rl+1
l=0

The first boundary condition V (r = R) = 0 shows that the potential is 0, i.e,

Bl
Al R l =
Rl+1
=⇒ Bl = −Al R2l+1

Thus,
∞
R2l+1
X  
l
V = Al r − l+1 Pl (cos θ)
r
l=0

The second boundary condition V (r ≫ R) = −E0 r cos θ allows to disregard the 2nd term and thus we get,
∞
X
V = −E0 r cos θ = Al rl Pl (cos θ)
l=0

E0 r cos θ can also be written as E0 P1 (cos θ). Thus only A1 is non-zero in the summation. This gives us,

A1 r1 P1 (cos θ) = −E0 r cos θ =⇒ A1 = −E0

Thus using l = 1 gives us,

R3
 
V (r, θ) = −E0 r − 2 cos θ
r
Considering the situation where the sphere has a charge Q, we can set the potential at 0 on the x − y
plane far away from the sphere. Since potentials follow the principle of superpostion, we can just add the
potential due to a charged sphere outside it to the potential obtained above. Thus,

R3
 
1 Q
V (r, θ) = −E0 r − 2 cos θ +
r 4πϵ0 r
Assignment 2 6

5.
r = r sin θ cos ϕx̂ + r sin θ sin ϕŷ + r cos θẑ
r′ = R cos ϕ′ x̂ + R sin ϕ′ ŷ
=⇒ r · r′ = rR cos α
= rR sin θ cos ϕ cos ϕ′ + rR sin θ sin ϕ sin ϕ′
∴ cos α = sin θ(cos ϕ cos ϕ′ + sin ϕ sin ϕ′ )
The monopole term with n = 0 is,
Z
A0 = ρ(r′ )P0 (cos α)dτ ′
Z
= λdl′
Z 2π
=λ Rdϕ′
0
∴ A0 = 2πλR
Thus,
1 2πλR
Vmono =
4πϵ0 r
The dipole term for n = 1 is,
Z
A1 = r′ P1 (cos α)ρdτ ′
Z
= R cos αλRdϕ′
Z 2π
= λR2 sin θ(cos ϕ cos ϕ′ + sin ϕ sin ϕ′ )dϕ′
0

This is equal to 0 since it is integration of sine and cosine over the entire period of 0 to 2π. This is to be
expected since the dipole moment of a uniform charge distribution is always 0. Thus,
Vdi = 0
The quadrapole term with n = 2 is,
Z
A2 = (r′ )2 P2 (cos α)ρdτ ′

3 cos2 α − 1
Z
= R2 λRdϕ′
2
λR3 2π
Z
= (3 cos2 α − 1)dϕ′
2 0
Z 2π
3λR3
= sin2 θ (sin ϕ sin ϕ′ + cos ϕ cos ϕ′ )2 dϕ′ − πλR3
2 0
Assignment 2 7

The integral is,

Z 2π Z 2π Z 2π Z 2π
′ ′ 2 ′ ′ ′ ′ ′
2
(sin ϕ sin ϕ + cos ϕ cos ϕ ) dϕ = sin ϕ 2
sin ϕ dϕ + cos ϕ 2 2
cos ϕ dϕ + sin ϕ cos ϕ sin 2ϕ′ dϕ′
0 0 0 0
Z 2π  Z 2π 
1 cos 2ϕ′ 1 cos 2ϕ′
 
′
2
= sin ϕ − 2
dϕ + cos ϕ + dϕ′
0 2 2 0 2 2
= π sin2 ϕ + π cos2 ϕ
=π

The other 2 terms became 0 since it was a cosine function integrated over its period. Thus,

3πλR3
A2 = sin2 θ − πλR3
2
πλR3
= (3 sin2 θ − 2)
2
3 cos2 θ − 1
 
= −πλR3
2
∴ A2 = −πλR3 P2 (cos θ)

Thus,
λ R3
Vquad = − P2 (cos θ)
4ϵ0 r3