PH103: Ele

tri ity and Magnetism

Mid Semester Exam (2013)

Maximum Weightage: 30%

Date: Feb 21, 2013
Time: 3 PM - 5 PM
Note: This paper ontains six questions in all, and ea h question arries ve marks.
1. (a) Consider a ve tor eld
A=


C  2
2
2
x
y
i
+
2y
z
j
+
3z
x
k
,
a3

where C and a are onstants. Verify Gauss's theorem (divergen e theorem) by

performing integrations along the surfa e and volume of a ube with sides a, one
of whose orners is lo ated at the origin. (2.5 marks)
Soln:

n
a

x
Gauss's theorem here

n
I

A dS =

Ad

The surfa e integral needs to omputed on the six fa es of the ube shown above.
The dire tions of two of those surfa es are also shown as the outwardly drawn

normals.
Z

A dS

A dS =

C
3a2
a3

OABC

ZEF GH

0
Z

xdx

A dS

dy =

C 2
2a
a3

3Ca2
2

EF AO

A dS

ZCBGH

A dS

C 2
a
a3

dx
0

zdz = Ca2

OCHE

A dS

ABGF

so that

Now
Z

2C
Ad = 3
a

ydy

dz =

Ca2
2

A dS = 3Ca2 .

(xy +2yz +3zx)dxdydz =

2C a5 a5 3a5
( + +
) = 3Ca2
a3 4
2
4

thus Gauss's theorem holds good.

(b) Consider a ve tor eld
C
V=
R



2
4xz
2yi + 3xj + 2 k ,
R

where C and R are onstants. Verify Stoke's theorem by performing integrations

along a losed path whi h is a ir le of radius R, entered at the origin, lying in
the xy plane. (2.5 marks)
Soln:

R
x
O

Stoke's theorem states

I

V dl =

( V) dS

Use plane polar oordinates x = r cos and y = r sin . Along the given ontour
dl = Rd( sin i + cos j). So the line integral
I

C
V dl = R2
R

2
2

(2 sin + 3 cos )d = CR
0

(cos2 + cos 2)d = CR

0

The surfa e integral, using the fa t that dS = rdrdk

Z

C
( V) dS =
R

(rdrdk)
= C R2 = CR.
((3 2)k)
R

Thus Stoke's theorem also holds good.

2. Consider two harges: q at (a, 0, 0) and 2q at (b, 0, 0). Using Cartesian oordinates,
obtain the equation of the equipotential surfa e on whi h the potential is zero. What
does this surfa e represent?
Solution:
q
40

p
p
(x a)2 + y 2 + z 2
(x b)2 + y 2 + z 2

=
=

or

=0

1
4

=0
2
2
2
(x
+y +z
(x b) + y 2 + z 2


(x b)2 + y 2 + z 2 = 4 (x a)2 + y 2 + z 2
a)2

3x2 8ax + 2bx + 3y 2 + 3z 2 = b2 4a2

2
(b2 4a2 )
=
x2 + (b 4a)x + y 2 + z 2 =
3
3
2

(b2 4a2 ) (b 4a)2
b 4a
+
+ y2 + z2 =
=
x+
3
3
9

2
b 4a
4(b a)2
2
2
=
x+
+y +z =
3
9

so the surfa e is a sphere of radius

2|ba|
3

, 0, 0).
, entered at ( 4ab
3

3. Consider the surfa e dened by (x 2)2 + y 2 = 2z 2 , for 0 z 2. What does this

surfa e represent? A harge q is pla ed at the point (2, 0, 1). Cal ulate the ele tri
ux due to this harge passing through the given surfa e.
Soln:
3

2 2

1
q

3
(2,0,1)

(2,0,0)

The surfa e in question is a one as shown above, with apex at (2, 0, 0). Flux through
the at fa e of the one
q
=

20

(1 cos )

from the gure it is obvious that cos = 1/3, so = q/20 (1 1/3) = q/30 . So the
ux through the urved surfa e c = q/0 q/30 = (2q)/(30 ).
4. A ertain surfa e harge distribution () on a spheri al shell of radius R produ es an
ele trostati potential inside the shell given by V (r) = V0 (2z 2 =x2 =y 2 ), for r R.
If, apart from (), there is no other harge anywhere in spa e, evaluate (). (r, )
denote the spheri al polar oordinates.
Soln:
Region 2 (r>R)

Region 1 (r<R)

Using x = r sin cos ,

y = r sin sin , and z = r cos , we obtain

(2z 2 =x2 =y 2 ) =
=
=
=

2r 2 cos2 r 2 sin2 cos2 r 2 sin2 sin2

2r 2 cos2 r 2 sin2
r 2 (3 cos2 1)
2r 2 P2 (cos )

so the potential in region 1 V1 (r, ) (valid for r R) an be written as

V1 (r, ) = 2V0 r 2 P2 (cos ).

Be ause the harge distribution is lo alized, so the potential must vanish at innity,
4

i.e, V2 (r , ) = 0. So the only possible form for V2 (r, )

X
Bl
P (cos ).
V2 (r, ) =
l+1 l
r
l=0

Potential must be ontinuous at r = R, i.e, V1 (R, ) = V2 (R, )

2V0 R2 P2 (cos ) =

leading to

X
Bl
P (cos ),
l+1 l
R
l=0

B2 = 2V0 R5
Bl = 0, for l 6= 2,

so that
V2 (r, ) =

2V0 R5
P2 (cos ).
r3

() an be obtained from the dis ontinuity ondition on the normal omponents of

the ele tri eld a ross a surfa e harge density
En2 En1 =

(1)

Here the dis ontinuity is on the surfa e of the sphere of radius R, so there En =
V /r. So Eq. 1 leads to
V1
V2

|r=R
|r=R =
r
r
0

or
() = 0 {4V0R + 6V0 R}P2 (cos ) = 100 V0 RP2 (cos ).

5. A line harge with non-uniform harge density = 0 y/a (0 is a onstant) from

y = 0 to y = 3a is pla ed at a distan e 4a from the enter of an un harged, isolated,
ondu ting spheri al shell of radius a, as shown in the gure below. Cal ulate the
potential of the shell.
y

z
3a
a

4a

Soln:
dy

B
r

a
O

Total harge in the length element dy shown above is dq = dy . Its image harge dq
will be
ady
a
dq = dq = p
r
(4a)2 + y 2

Total image harge

q = 0

3a

ydy

16a2 + y 2

= 0 a.

By onstru tion the original harge and the image harge reate zero potential at the
surfa e of the sphere. But this sphere is un harged and ungrounded. So q = 0 a
harge will distribute itself uniformly on the sphere and a t like an additional image
harge at the enter, raising the potential of the sphere to V = q /40 a = 0 /40 .
6. A sphere of radius a ontaining a uniform harge density has a spheri al avity of
radius a/2 as shown in the gure. Cal ulate the total ele trostati energy inside the
avity.
a/2

Soln:

a/2

Imagine that the avity is full with harge density , and also there is harge density
inside it. So ele tri eld at an arbitrary point P inside the avity is due to the sphere with
harge density entered at O, and sphere with harge density , entered at O'. Be ause
P is inside both these spheres, so the formula E = r/30 for the eld inside and uniformy
harged sphere applies. By the prin iple of superposition, the eld at P is
EP =

~
~
~
O'P
~
OP

~ ) = OO' = a k,

=
(OP O'P
30
30
30
30
30 2

above we assumed that the origin lies at O, and oordinates of O' are (0, 0, a/2). Note that
the eld inside the avity is uniform. Energy density asso iated with the ele trostati eld
is
 2
1
1
u = 0 E 2 = 0
2
2

Therefore

a
60

4  a 3 2 a5
total ele trostati energy of the avity = u
=
3 2
4320
Important Information

First few Legendre polynomials are

P0 (x)
P1 (x)
P2 (x)
P3 (x)

=
=
=
=

1
x
(3x2 1)/2
(5x3 3x)/2