Physics 2.

Electromagnetism
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Problem 1. A semi-infinite cylinder of the radius R is uniformly charged on its surface so that
the charge per unit length is . Find the electric field in the center of the base. Answer:E = k/R.
Solution. Let (0, 0, 0) be the center of the base, and z be along the axis. Let be the surface
charge density, = /2R. Then
Z
E=

k(r r 0 )dq 0
|r r 0 |3

r = (0, 0, 0),

r 0 = (R cos 0 , R sin 0 , z 0 )

dq 0 = Rd0 dz 0
2

|r r 0 | = (R2 + z 0 )1/2
Ex = Ey = 0
Z
2kRz 0 dz 0
Ez =
(R2 + z 0 2 )3/2
0
Ez = 2pik = k/R

Problem 2. A hemisphere is uniformly charged on its surface with the surface charge density .
Find the electric field in the center. Answer:E = k.
Solution.
Z
k(r r 0 )dq 0
E=
|r r 0 |3
r = (0, 0, 0),

r 0 = (R sin 0 cos 0 , R sin 0 sin 0 , R cos 0 )

dq 0 = R2 sin 0 d0 d0
|r r 0 | = R
Ex = Ey = 0
Z /2
2kR3 sin 0 cos 0 d0
Ez =
R3
0
Ez = k

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Problem 3. A conical surface with the radius of the basis R is uniformly charged with the
surface density . Find the potential at the top. Answer: = 2kR.
Solution. Let us choose coordinates so that z be along the cone axis. Let H be the cone height,
0 z H, and be the opening angle, R = H tan . Then
Z
=

kdq 0
|r r 0 |

dq 0 = 2z tan dl = 2l sin dl
l = |r r 0 | = z/ cos
Z L
= 2k
sin dl
0

L = H cos ,

R = L sin

= 2kR
Problem 4. Find the potential on the edge of a thin disk with the radius R = 20 cm and surface
charge density = 0.25 C/m2 . Answer: = 4kR.
Solution. Polar coordinates
Z
kdq 0
=
|r r 0 |
r = (R, 0, 0),

r 0 = (r0 cos 0 , r0 sin 0 , 0)

2

|r r 0 | = (R2 + r0 2Rr0 cos 0 )1/2

dq 0 = r0 dr0 d0

Problem 5. Two parallel straight thin strings are uniformly charged with the linear charge
densities and . The distance between the strings is l. Find the potential and the electric field
in the whole space. Answer: = (2kl/r) cos , E = 2kl/r2 .
Solution. Let the strings be perpendicular to x y plane and pass through (l/2, 0, 0) and
(l/2, 0, 0), respectively. Then
= 2k ln(r1 /r0 ) 2k ln(r2 /r0 )
r1 = [(r cos l/2)2 + y 2 ],

r2 = [(r cos + l/2)2 + y 2 ]

= 2k ln(r1 /r2 )
For l  r Taylor expansion gives the answers.
Problem 6. Find the electric dipole moment of a thin rod of the length l. The linear charge
density is = a(2x l), where x is the distance from one of the ends, and a is constant. Answer:p =

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al3 /6.
Solution.
Z
px =

xdq
Z

xdx

=
0

Problem 7. A system consists of a two concentric conducting spheres (radii a and b, a < b).
The inner sphere is charged with the charge q1 . What should be the charge q2 of the outer sphere to
make the potential of the inner sphere 1 = 0 ? What is then (r) ? Answer:q2 = q1 b/a,
kq1 kq1

,
r
a
kq1 (a b)
,
=
ar

arb
rb

Solution. Superposition.
Problem 8. The plates of a parallel plate capacitor are connected with a conducting wire. There
is a metal plate with the charge q between the plates, parallel to the plates. The metal plate is moved
by a distance l. What charge Q passed in the wire ? Answer:Q = ql/d.
Solution. Let the plate surface be S. Let the charge plate be at the distance x from the capacitor
plate with the charge q 0 (d x from the one with q 0 , respectively). The condition that the capacitor
plates have the same potential is
4k(q 0 /S)d 2(q/S)x + 2(q/S)(d x) = 0
q 0 = q(d 2x)/2d
x x + l q 0 q 0 ql/d
Q = q 0 = ql/d
Problem 9. Initially the space between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor is not filled
with anything and the electric field is E0 . Then half of the space is filled with a dielectric with the
dielectric constant , so that the surface of the dielectric is parallel to the plates. Find the electric
field inside the capacitor for the cases when a) voltage is constant, b) charge is constant. Answer:a)
E1 = 2E0 /( + 1), E2 = 2E0 /( + 1); b) E1 = E0 , E2 = E0 /.
Solution. Let E1 be the electric field inside the dielectric with 1 , and E2 is inside 2 . The
boundary conditions for the normal components gives
1 E1 = 2 E2

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The voltage is
V = E1 d/2 + E2 d/2
The fields are related to the charge density as E = 4, and q = S. In the beginning V0 = E0 d.
Compare all this to arrive at the answers above.
Problem 10. Same as in the previous problem but the dielectric surface is perpendicular to the
plates. Answer:a) E1 = E2 = E0 ; b) E1 = E2 = 2E0 /( + 1).
Solution. See previous problem. The difference is that here the electric field in tangential, so
that E1 = E2 = E and V = Ed. Attention: charge density is different on the parts of the plate
which are in contact with different dielectrics.
Problem 11. A system consists of two concentric thin spherical conducting envelopes with the
radii R1 and R2 , R1 < R2 , and charges q1 and q2 . Find the electric energy W1 and W2 of each
envelope, the energy of interaction of the two envelopes W12 and the total electric energy W of the
system. Answer:
kq 2
kq 2
kq1 q2
W = W1 + W2 + W12 = 1 + 2 +
2R1 2R2
R2
Solution.
k(q1 + q2 )
R2
kq1 kq1

1 = 2 +
R1
R2
2 =

W = 12 q1 1 + 12 q2 2
Problem 12. The space between two concentric conducting spheres (radii a and b, a < b),
is filled with a homogeneous weakly conducting medium. The capacity of the system is C. Find
the specific resistivity of the medium if the voltage drops during time T in times. Answer: =
4T ab/(b a)C ln .
Solution.
J = I/4r2
E = J = I/4r2
I 1 1
V =
( )
4 a b
I = q = C V
4ab
V =
V
C(b a)
V = V0 exp(t/ )
=

C(b a)
4ab

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V0 /V = T / = ln(V0 /V ) = ln
Problem 13. Two long parallel wires are in a weakly conducting medium with the specific
resistivity . The distance between the wires is l, the radius of each wire is a, a  l. Find a) the
current density in the point at the distance r from both wires when the potential difference is V ,
b) resistivity of the medium if the length of the wires is L, L  l. Answer:j = lV /2r2 ln(l/a),
R = L(/) ln(l/a).
Solution. Each wire produces a potential = 2k ln(r/a), where is the linear charge density,
and r is the distance from the wire. The potential difference will then be V = 4k ln(l/a). The radial
electric field is Er = 2k/r. The total electric field in the point as in the problem E = 2Er (l/2r), and
the current density is j = E/. The total current is I = 2aLja , where ja = Ea /, and Ea = 2k/a.
Thus,
= V /4k ln(l/a)
LV
I=
ln(l/a)
Problem 14. Two cylindrical resistors with the same cross-section but different specific resistivities, 1 = 84 n/m and 2 = 50 n/m, are brought in contact at their bases. Find the charge
at the interface of the two resistors if the current I = 50 A flows from the first to the second one.
Answer:q = (2 1 )I/4k.
Solution.
q = S
E2 E1
=
S
4k
2 j 2 S 1 j 1 S
=
4k
(2 1 )I
=
4k
Problem 15. Between the plates 1 and 2 of a parallel plate capacitor there is an inhomogeneous
weakly conduction medium. The dielectric constant and specific resistivity vary from 1 , 1 near
the plate 1 to 1 , 1 near the plate 2. The capacitor is connected to a constant voltage and the
current I flows from the plate 1 to plate 2. Find the total charge inside the capacitor. Answer:q =
I(2 2 1 1 )/4k.
Solution.
Z
Z
q = q dV = S q dx
Z
S
d(Ex )
=
dx
4k
dx
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S
(2 E2 1 E1 )
4k
S
=
(2 2 j2 1 1 j1 )
4k
j1 = j2 = I/S
=

Problem 16. A capacitor, filled with a dielectric with the dielectric constant  = 2.1 looses half
of its charge in = 3 min. In the assumption that the loss is due to the conductivity of the dielectric,
find its specific resistivity. Answer: = 4k / ln 2.
Solution.
E = 4kq/S
I = ES/ = (4k/)q
I = q
Problem 17. Two large parallel plates are in a vacuum. One (cathode) is the source of
electrons with the negligible initial velocity. The electron flow to the other plate results in the
charge distribution in the space between the plates, due to which the potential is = ax4/3 , where
a = const and x is the distance from the cathode. Find the charge density and the current density.
p
Answer:(x) = (1/9k)ax2/3 , j = (1/9k)a3/2 2e/m.
Solution.
1 d2
4k dx2
j = v
p
v = 2e/m
=

(1)
(2)
(3)

Problem 18. Find the current density as a function of r for an axially symmetric parallel electron
flow if B = br , where b = const > 0 and = const > 0. Answer:j(r) = (b/4K)(1 + )r1 .
so that
Solution. If j k z then B = B ,
4Kjz =

1 rB
r r

Problem 19. A non-conducting thin disk of the radius R, uniformly charged with the surface
density , rotates around its axis with the angular velocity . Find the magnetic field in the center
of the disk and the magnetic moment of the disk. Answer:B = 4KR/2, m = R4 /4.
Solution. Each ring of the radius r and width dr carries current dI = rdr and contributes
dBz =

2K
dI
r

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dmz = dI r2

Problem 20. A non-conducting sphere of the radius R = 50 mm, uniformly charged with the
surface charge = 10K/m2 , rotates around its axis with the angular velocity = 70 rad/s. Find
the magnetic field in the center of the sphere. Answer:B = 8KR/3.
Solution. Spherical coordinates: dI = (/2)R2 sin dd,
dBz =

2K
dI sin2
R

Problem 21. A small coil K with the number of turns N = 200 is between the poles of the
magnet (see Figure). The area of the coil cross-section is S = 1 cm2 , the length of the lever OA is
l = 30 cm. In the absence of the current in the coil the scales are balanced. When the current is
I = 22 mA the balance is restored with the additional mass of M = 60 mg. Find the magnetic field
of the magnet. Answer:B = mgl/N IS.

Solution. The balance is broken because of the torque N = mB on the small coil. This torque
should be balanced by M gl. Thus
mB = M gl
m = N IS
Problem 22. Two long wires with parallel currents of I = 6 A each are moved apart so that
the distance between the two increases = 2 times. What work per unit length of the wire is done
? Answer:W = 2KI 2 ln .
Solution.
Z
W =

Z
F dr =
a

2KI 2
dr = 2KI 2 ln(b/a)
r

Problem 23. Two long parallel wires of negligible resistance are connected to a constant voltage.
The circuit is closed with a resistor. The distance between the wire axes is = 20 times larger than
the radius of the cross-section of each wire. What should be the resistance R for the force between

the wires to vanish ? Answer:R = 4 Kk ln .

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Solution. In order to have the voltage the two wires should bear the linear charge densities
and such that V = 4k ln(d/a), where d is the distance between the wires, and a is the wire
radius, d  a. The electric attractive force will be FE = lE = 2k2 l/d, where l is the length of the
wire. The repulsive magnetic force is FB = 2KI 2 /d, where I = V /R.
Problem 24. A constant current I = 14 A flows along a long straight conductor with the
cross-section in the form of a thin semi-circle of the raduis R = 5 cm. Same current flows in the
opposite direction along the axis of the circle. Find the force of the interaction per unit length of
the conductors. Answer:F = 4KI 2 /R.

Solution.
dFy = 2KI1 (I2 /)d sin
Z 2
2
Fy = (2KI /)
sin d

Problem 25. A system consists of two parallel planes with the currents which make a homogeneous magnetic field B between the planes. The magnetic field outside is zero. Find the force per
unit area on each planes. Answer:B 2 /8k.
Solution.
dF
= J B
dV
dV = dSdx
Z
dF
= J Bdx
dS
1
1
B

J=
rot B =
x
4K Z
4K
x
d B2
dF

= x
(
)dx
dS
dx 8K
Problem 26. A metal disk of the radius a = 25 cm is rotated with the angular velocity = 130
rad/s around its axis. Find the potential difference between the center and the edge for the cases
when a) there is no magnetic field, b) magnetic field of B = 5 mT is perpendicular to the disk
surface. Answer:a) V = 2 a2 me /2e; b) V = Ba2 /2.
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Solution. a) Centrifugal force m 2 r should be balanced by electric force eE:

E = m 2 r/e
Z
V = Edr
b) Magnetic force erB should be balanced by electric force:
E = rB
Z
V = Edr
Problem 27. A circular contour with the area S and resistivity R is rotated with the angular
velocity around one of its diameters, which is perpendicular to the homogeneous magnetic field B.
Neglecting the induced magnetic field find the required torque N (t). Initially the contour plane is
perpendicular to the magnetic field. Answer:N = (S 2 B 2 /R) sin2 t.
Solution.
N = |mB sin k

= t

m = IS

I = E/R = /R
= BS cos = BS cos t
Problem 28. Find the inductance per unit length of the two thin coaxial metal cylinders if the
outer cylinder radius is time = 3.6 larger than the radius of the inner one. Answer:L1 = 2K ln .
Solution.
B = 2KI/r
Z b
Bdr = 2KIl ln
=l
a

Problem 29. Given two immobile contours with the mutual inductance L12 . In one of the
contours the current I1 = at, where a = const and t is time. What is the current in the second
contour if its self-conductance L22 and resistivity R ? Answer:I2 = [1 exp(tR/L22 )]aL12 /R.
Solution.
E2 = 21 22
= L21 I1 L22 I2
= L21 a L22 I2 = I2 R

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Problem 30. A coaxial cable consists of a central wire of the radius a and outer thin conductive
envelope of the radius b. Find the inductance per unit length if the distribution of the current inside
the central wire is homogeneous. Answer:L1 = 2K[1/4 + ln(b/a)].
Solution. Using UI = LI 2 /2:
B = 2KI/r,

a<r<b

B = 2KIr/a2 ,
0ra
Z
B2
dV
U=
8K
Z
B2
U
=
rdr
l
4K
Z b
Z a
2
4
2
dr/r]
= KI [ (r /a )rdr +
0

= KI [1/4 + ln(b/a)]
Problem 31. Two identical coils, of inductance L each, are connected in series and placed so that
the magnetic flux of one fully penetrates the other. Find the inductance of the system. Answer:4L.
Solution.
11 = 12 = 21 = 22 = LI/
L0 I = (11 + 12 + 21 + 22 ) = 4LI
Problem 32. Two coils of the same length and almost the same cross-section are put one inside

the other. Find their mutual inductance if the self-inductances are L1 and L2 . Answer:L12 = L1 L2 .
Solution.
B1 = (4KN1 /l)I1
11 = N1 SB1 = (4KN12 S/l)I1
21 = N2 SB1 = (4KN1 N2 S/l)I1
L1 = L11 = 4KN12 S/l
L2 = L22 = 4KN22 S/l
L12 = L21 = 4KN1 N2 S/l
L212 = L11 L22
Problem 33. Two identical coaxial circular superconducting loops, of inductance L each, are
initially at large distance one from the other. In each loop is current I initially. They are brought
together. What is the new current in each loop ? What is the change in the magnetic energy of the
system ? Answer:I 0 = I/2, W = LI 2 /2.
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Solution.
E = = IR = 0
= const I 0 = I/2
W = Wnew Wold = (4L)(I/2)2 /2 2 LI 2 /2

11