Electrostatic Boundary Value problems

1) Coulombs law
2) Gausss law
Application of these techniques for determining electric field is possible when the charge
distribution is known. In most practical situations, this is certainly not the case.
In practical electrostatic problems, electrostatic conditions (charge or potential) at some boundaries
are known, and it is desired to find E and V throughout the region. These are referred to as Boundary
Value Problems.
Laplaces/Poissons equation:
. = . =
= .

. () =

2 =

2 = 0 (homogeneous region, is constant)

Laplaces equation is of primary importance in solving electrostatic problems.

Uniqueness Theorem
If a solution of Laplaces equation satisfies a given set of boundary conditions, is this the only
possible solution? Let us assume that there are two solutions V1 and V2. Both of them satisfy
Laplaces equation with the same set of prescribed boundary conditions.
2 1 = 0

2 2 = 0

V1 = V2 on the boundary

Say, Vd = V2 V1
2 = 2 2 2 1 = 0

Also, Vd =0 on the boundary.

Let

= .

. = . ( ) = 2 + ( )2
. = ( )2

From Divergence theorem,

( )2 = Vd .ds

(identity)

. = .

Since Vd = 0, on the boundary, surface integral equates to zero. So the volume integral must also
vanish.

Since the integration is always positive,

( )2 = 0

= 0

therefore, Vd = V2 V1 = constant everywhere in the volume. But Vd =0 on the boundary, therefore

Vd = 0 everywhere. Therefore V1 & V2 cannot be different solutions to the same problem.
Uniqueness Theorem: - If a solution to Laplace equation can be found that satisfies the boundary
conditions, then the solution is unique. The theorem can be similarly shown to hold for Poissons
equation as well.
Boundary Value Problem is uniquely defined by: 1) The appropriate differential equation
2) Solution region
3) Prescribed boundary conditions
Partial Differential Equations
The Laplace is a PDE. A host of physics problems involve solution of PDEs. PDEs which occur in
physics are mostly second order.
General PDE in 2 dimensions:

2
2
2

+
+
+ + = 0
2
2

b2 < ac: elliptic e.g. Laplaces equation,

b2 > ac: hyperbolic e.g. Wave equation,

b2 = ac: parabolic equation e.g. diffusion equation,

Important point:

+ 2 = 0
1 2

2 2 = 0

2
2

= 0

Generally elliptic equations have boundary conditions which are specified around a closed boundary.
Hyperbolic and Parabolic equations have at least one open boundary. The boundary conditions for at
least one variable are specified at one end of the system. The wave equation and the diffusion
equation contain a time variable. There is a set of initial conditions at a particular time. These
properties are related to the fact that an ellipse is a closed object, whereas hyperbola and parabola
are open.
General procedures for solution of Laplaces equation:

1) Direct Integration (when V is a function of one variable)

2) Separation of variables (V is a function of more than one variable)
The solution at this point is expressed in terms of unknown integration constants.
Apply the boundary conditions to determine a unique solution for V.
Having obtained V, = .

and D = E.

If necessary, the charge Q on a conductor can be computed, = , where = , being

the normal component of D at the conductor.
Capacitance may be computed: C=Q/V
Example 1: sadiku pg. 205
A photocopying machine is an important application of electrostatics. The surface of the
photoconductor is initially charged uniformly. When light from the document to be copied is
focussed on the photoconductor, the charges on the lower surface combine with those on the upper
surface to neutralise each other. The image is developed by pouring a charged black powder over
the surface of the photoconductor. The electric field attracts the charged powder, which is later
transferred to paper and melted to form a permanent image. We want to determine the electric
field below and above the surface of the photoconductor.

= 0 , therefore we need to solve laplaces equation. Also the potential depends only on .

2 = 0
2
2

=0

V = Ax + B
Let, V1 = A1x + B1, x > a
V2 = A2x + B2, x< a

V1(x=d) = 0, V2(x=0) = 0
At x = a, V1 = V2 and D1n D2n = s --- boundary conditions
0 = A1d + B1,

=> B1 = - A1d

0 = 0 + B2,

=> B2 = 0

A1a + B1 = A2a

at x=a

D = E =

= 1 2 = 1 1 2 2 = 1
Solving for A1 and A2, we get

+ 2

= 1 1 + 2 2

1 = 1

2 = 2
Example 2:
Determine the potential function for the region inside the rectangular trough of infinite length
whose cross section is shown.

2 = 0

Boundary conditions:
V(x=0, 0 y a) = 0

V(x=b, 0 y a) = 0

Method of separation of variables:

Let V(x,y) = X(x).Y(y)
XY + YX = 0

V (0 x b, y = 0) = 0

V (0 x b, y = a) = Vo

X " Y"
=
X
Y

Since LHS is a function of x only and RHS is a function of y only, this equality holds only if the ratios
are constant.
Let

X " Y"
=
= , is called the separation constant
X
Y

The variables have been separated as follows

X + x = 0

&

Y + y = 0

Boundary conditions:
V (0,y) = X(0)Y(y) = 0

X(0) = 0

V(b,y) = X(b)Y(y) = 0

X(b) = 0

V (x,y) = X(x)Y(0) = 0

Y(0) = 0

V(x,a) = X(x)Y(a) = Vo
Let us consider all possible values of
Case A:
Let = 0
X = 0

=>X= Ax + B

X(x=0) = 0

=> B = 0

X(x=b) = 0

=> A = 0

X(x) = 0

i.e. V = 0

This becomes a trivial solution. Since 0

Case B:
Let < 0,

say = - 2

X - 2 X = 0
(D2 - 2 )X = 0,

D = d/dx

DX = X
If, DX = X

dX
= X
dx

or,

dX
= dx
X

or, ln(X) = x + ln(A1)

or

X = A1ex
X = A2 ex

If DX = - X

X ( x) = A1ex + A2 e x

Total solution,

() = 1 (cosh + sinh ) + 2 (cosh sinh )

() = 1 cosh + 2 sinh
where,

B1 = A1 + A2

X(x=0) = 0

B1=0

X(x=b)=0

B2 =0

and

B2 = A1 A2

Therefore X(x) =0. Also a trivial solution for 0

Case C:

>0, say = 2
X + 2X = 0
(D2 + 2)X = 0
DX = jX
As before, () = 0 + 1

where,

= cos + sin

and

() = 0 cos + 1 sin
and

0 = 0 + 1
X(x=0) = 0

X(x=b) = 0

g0 = 0

= cos sin

1 = 0 1

g1sin b = 0, If g1 0, sin b = 0 = sin n , therefore = n/b, where n= 1,2,3,........

sinh x = 0, only when x=0

sin x = 0 at infinite no. of pts.
If n = 0, = 0, gives a trivial solution.
If n = -1, -2, ..... is not needed to be considered since = 2 has the same value whether is (+) or (-)
() = sin
= 2 =

2 2
2

for a given value of n

Let us now find Y(y)

" 2 = 0

() = 0 cosh + 1 sinh

Y(y=0) = 0

0 = 0

() = sinh

(, ) = sin

sinh

Thus there are many possible solutions of V for various values. If V1, V2, V3,...... are solutions of
Laplaces equations, then by superposition theorem,
then V = e1V1 + e2V2 + .......+ enVn, is also a solution.

(, ) =
=1 sin

sinh

where

Cn is to be determined from boundary conditions

(, = ) = 0 =
=1 sin

sinh

This is a Fourier Series expansion of Vo

0 0 sin

=
=1 sin

sin

sin sin = 0
0

sin sin =
0

Therefore, all terms 0 sin

sin

0 sin
0

0 .

sin

= 0 2

vanish on the RHS unless m = n.

= sinh
2

1
2
. cos
. . (1 cos
)
= sinh

0
2 0

0
(1 cos ) = sinh
.
2

sinh

sinh

20
=
(1 cos )

40
=
,

= 1,3,5,

 sinh

Complete solution

= 0,

40

sinh

= 0

40
(, ) =

Check the solution at the boundaries.

= 2,4,6,

=1,3,5

sinh

sinh

sin

To determine the potential for each point (x,y) in the trough, we take the first few term of the
convergent infinite series.

Computation of Capacitance:

For any two conductor capacitor, C may be determined.

1) Gausss Law: Assume Q, and find V in terms of Q

2) Laplaces equation: Assume V, determine Q in terms of V

Determine E using Gausss or Coulombs law: = .

Parallel Plate Capacitor:

Each Plate has area S. Charges are uniformly distributed.

=

Ideal capacitor: distance between plates << dimensions of plate. So, fringing can be ignored.

1st method:

() =

= .
=
2

Problem:

, =

. =

1
1
2
2 2 2 1
2 = 2 2 = 2 2 =
=
=

2
2
2
2 2 2

Conducting Spherical shells are maintained at a voltage difference of Vo.

V(r=b) = 0
V(r=a) = Vo
Determine V and E in the region between shells. V depends only on r.
2nd method (Laplaces equation):
Laplaces equation:

2 = 0

1 2

=0

2
2

=0


=
2

r = b, V = 0

r = a, V = Vo 0 = ( )

= . =

1 1

1 1

= 0
1 1

0
= 2 =

1 1

2 ( )

4
2
sin =
1 1
1 1

=0 =0 ( )

= . =

4
=
1 1

1st method (gausss law):

= . = . 4 2

4 2

1 1
=
. . =

= .
2
4
4
2

4
=
1 1