Solution for Multiple-Choice Homework 7 Conductors and Dielectrics

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 7.1(Electric Field at Conductor Surface)

Problem: A conductor is placed in an electric field. What can be said about the electric field lines at the surface
of the conductor?
Select One of the Following:
(a) Any field line configuration is possible at a conductors surface.
(b) No field lines can intersect a conductors surface.
(c) Field lines must be tangent to the conductors surface.
(d-Answer) Field lines must be perpendicular to the conductors surface.
(e) Field lines must make a 45 angle to the conductors surface.
Solution
The electric field is perpendicular to the surface of the conductor. If the electric field was not perpendicular to the
surface of a conductor, there would be a component of the electric field along the surface and a surface current
would flow.
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 7.2(Field for Spherical System)

Problem: A point charge of charge +3.0nC is located at the center of a conducting spherical shell. The
conducting shell has inner radius a and outer radius b. Select the figure below that represents the field map for
the system if a net charge of +3.0nC is added to the spherical conductor.
Select One of the Following:
(a) Figure (a)

(b) Figure (b)

(c-Answer) Figure (c)

Figure (a)
Conductor
_
_
Air

Figure (b)

+
Conductor

+
_

Air

+
Figure (c)

+ _

+
_
Air

+
_
_
+ Conductor +
+
Solution

Gauss law states that the number of electric field lines leaving a surface is proportional to the charge enclosed by that
surface. Next, divide the system into three regions. Region I:
The total charge in this region is Qenc = Q = +3.0nC; there
are 4 electric field lines leaving this region. Region II: The
electric field in a conductor is zero, so there should not be
any field lines drawn. Region III: The total charge enclosed in
this region is Qenc = 2Q = +6.0nC. Since region I defined
4 field lines leaving a charge +3.0nC, then there must be 8
field lines for region III.

+
+
-

III
II

I
+

Air

+
+

Conductor

Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 7.3(Why Zero Force in Conductor?)

Problem: A short time after a conductor is placed in an external electric field the net electric force felt by the
mobile charge inside the conductor becomes zero. What explains this effect physically?
Select One of the Following:
(a) Mobile charges block the field lines.
(b-Answer) Charge separates in response to the external field and sets up a field that cancels the external field in
the conductors interior.
(c) The surface atoms lose electrons to the air to block the field.
(d) The atoms in the conductor absorb the electric field.
(e) A Gaussian surface enclosing the conductor contains no net charge.
Solution
Charge separated in response to the external field and set up a field that canceled the external field in the
conductors interior.
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 7.4(Charge Density on Hubcap)

Problem: On a construction site, a 2.0m by 3.0m conducting
metal sheet lies on the ground. The earth produces an electric
field of E = 150 N
C downward. What is the surface charge density
on the upper surface of the metal sheet?
Select One of the Following:
(a) 2.6 109 C/m2
(b) 4.7 108 C/m2
(c-Answer) 1.3 10

(d) 7.8 10

(e) 5.1 10

Sheet
2

C/m

C/m

Earth

C/m2

Solution
Using a cylindrical Gaussian surface with one end in the field and
. The
one end in the metal sheet, Gauss law states e = Qenc
0
charge enclosed in the surface is A, so we can write
e =

A
0

Since the field lines enter the Gaussian surface, the flux is negative:
e = |E|A. Putting it all together and solving for the charge
density gives,
= 0 |E| = (8.851012

N
C2
)(150 ) = 1.3109 C/m2
2
Nm
C

Sheet
+
+
Earth

Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 7.5(Compute Bound Charge of Plexiglass)

Problem: A piece of glass ( = 7) is placed above
an infinite plane of charge with negative surface
charge density = 1.5 107 mC2 as shown to
the right. Compute the bound charge density, b ,
on the bottom surface of the glass. Be careful of
the sign.

t
=7

Select One of the Following:

(a) 6.4 108 C/m2

(b-Answer) 6.4 108 C/m2

(c) 3.8 1012 C/m2
(d) 3.8 1012 C/m2
(e) 5.5 106 C/m2
Solution
(a) Calculate the Fields: Outside the slab, the field is that of an infinite plane. So immediately below the slab
the field is
~ 0 = z
E
20
The field inside the slab is reduced by a factor of ,
~ = z
E
20

z
t
b

=7
+

(b) Apply Gauss Law: Use a Gaussian Pillbox, a cylinder with end area A as drawn above. The charge
enclosed in the cylinder is Qenc = b A. Applying Gauss Law to the pillbox yields
Et A E b A = E A E 0 A =

b A
Qenc
=
0
0

(c) Substitute the Fields: Cancelling A and substituting the field,

=
20
20
0

+1
b =
+ =
2
2
2

C
0.15 m2
1
+ 1 = 6.4 108 C/m2
b =
2
7
4

Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 7.6(Integrating a Volume Charge)

Problem: A spherically symmetric charge density occupies the region r < a. The charge density increases
quadratically with radius as (r) = r2 where is a constant. Calculate the total charge.
Select One of the Following:
(a) 2a
a3
3
a5
(c)
5
(d) 4a5

(b)

(e-Answer)

4a5
5
Solution

(a) Spherically Symmetry Charge Density: The total charge of a spherically symmetric volume charge density
is
Z a
4r2 (r)dr
Q=
0

This is found by dividing the volume up into this shells of volume 4r2 dr.
(b) Substitute: Substitute the charge density and set the limits of integration
Z a
Z a
r4 dr
4r2 (r2 )dr = 4
Q=
0

(c) Do the Integral: The integration yields r /5 and after imposing the limits of integration
Q=

4a5
5

Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 7.7(Surface Charge Density on a Conductor)

Conductor

Problem: The figure to the right shows two parallel planes with
equal and opposite surface charge densities, , = 0.1 C
m2 .
Calculate the induced charge density on the left and right surface
of the conductor.

Select One of the Following:

(a-Answer) l = 0.1C/m2 and r = +0.1C/m2

(b) l = +0.1C/m2 and r = 0.1C/m2
(c) l = 0.05C/m2 and r = +0.05C/m2
(d) l = +0.05C/m2 and r = 0.05C/m2
(e) l = 0 and r = 0
Solution

Now, using a Gaussian surface between Regions I and II, find the
field in Region II.
EII A EI A =

Qencl
A
=
0
0

EII =

To find the induced charge density on the left surface of the conductor, draw another Gaussian surface that encloses the left surface. Then use Gauss Law again:
Econd A EII A =

II

Conductor

Draw a good field map of the system, remembering that there are
no field lines inside the conductor. The field in Regions I and III
are both zero.
~I = E
~ III = 0
E

III

A
0

~ cond = 0, so
Electric field inside a conductor is always zero, E
EII =

=
0
0
=

We can use the same Gaussian surface technique to find the induced charge density on the right surface, or we can use Conservation of Charge on an uncharged conductor. In this case,
the charge on the left surface must be equal and opposite to the
charge on the right surface so the conductor as a whole will remain
uncharged. Therefore,
r = = = 0.1Cm2
Total Points for Problem: 4 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 7.8(Surface Charge Density on Conductor)

Problem:
A spherical conductor has net positive charge as
drawn to the right. A negatively charged object with charge Q is
brought near the conductor but does not touch or transfer charge
to the conductor. Four points A-D are labelled. At which point
or points will the magnitude of the surface charge density of the
conductor be greatest?

-Q A

positively
charged
conductor

Select One of the Following:

(a) The charge density will be equal at all points.
(b-Answer) The charge density is largest at point A.
(c) The charge density is largest at point C.
(d) The charge density is largest at points B and D.
(e) The charge density is largest in the center of the conductor.
Solution
Since the negative object will attract more positive charge close to itself, the conductors positive surface charge
density will be highest closest to the charged object, point A.
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 7.9(Compute Surface Charge of a

Plane)
~ + = 10N/Cz.
Problem: A uniform surface charge lies in the x y plane. Above the plane, the electric field is E
~
Below the plane, the electric field is E = 3N/Cz. Note, the system must be part of a larger system since the
outer field is not equal and opposite. Compute the surface charge density of the plane.
Select One of the Following:
(a-Answer) 6 1011 mC2
(b) 1 1010 mC2
(c) 6 1011 mC2
(d) 1 1010 mC2
(e) 0
Solution

Definitions

E+

~ + = 10 N z Electric Field above Plane

E
C
N
~ = 3 z Electric Field below Plane
E
C
n
bottom Normal vector of Bottom of Gaussian Surface
n
top Normal vector of Top of Gaussian Surface

ntop

Charge Density of plane

top Flux through top of Gaussian Surface
bottom Flux through bottom of Gaussian Surface
A Area of end of Gaussian Surface

nbottom
E

Strategy: Draw an infinitely thin cylindrical Gaussian Surface, and use Gauss law to compute charge inside.
(a) Draw a Good Diagram and Field Map: Draw the field map using the general techniques of next section.
Since more lines begin on the surface, > 0.
(b) Draw Gaussian Pillbox: The dashed line in the figure is the Gaussian Pillbox, with top and bottom area
A. Draw it so the top and bottom of the cylinder are very close to the surface.
(c) Argue the Sides Away: Since we make the Gaussian pillbox infinitely short, the flux through the sides is
zero.
(d) Compute top : Use definition of electric flux:
Z
~+ n
top )dA
top = (E
S

~
top is constant over the top of the Gaussian surface, it can be removed from the integral leaving
RSince E+ n
dA
=
A
the area of the top, so
C
~+ n
top = E
top A
by observation n
top = z so
N
N
top = (10 z) (z)A = (10 )A
C
C
(e) Compute bottom : Likewise
~ n
bottom = E
bottom A.
By observation n
bottom =
z so

N
N
bottom = (3 z) (z)A = (3 )A
C
C
(f) Use Gauss Law: Gauss Law states the flux leaving a closed surface is proportional to the charge enclosed:
top + bottom =

Q
.
0

By definition of surface charge, Q = A where is the surface charge of the plane, so

N
N
A
(10 )A + (3 )A =
C
C
0
N
N
C2
= 0 (7 ) = (8.85 1012
)(7 )
C
Nm2
C
C
= 6 1011 2
m
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 7.10(Surface Charge of Dielectric Half

Plane)
Problem: A sheet of Teflon, an insulator with dielectric constant 2.1, is held so that its surface normal is parallel
to the earths electric field of 150 N
C . Compute the magnitude of the surface charge density on one side of the
sheet.
Select One of the Following:
(a) 1.5 109 C/m2
(b) 4.1 109 C/m2
(c) 8.7 109 C/m2
(d) 3.3 1010 C/m2
(e-Answer) 7.0 1010 C/m2
Solution
Electric field lines can only end on negative charge. Since the direction of the Earths electric field is down and ends on the top of
the dielectric, there must be a negative bound charge density on
the top surface of the dielectric (see figure). Note that the bottom
surface of the dielectric has a positive surface charge density because field lines begin. We can apply Gauss Law to the Gaussian
surface enclosing the surface of the dielectric to determine the
amount of charge on the surface. We choose a Gaussian pillbox
with cross sectional area A, since it has the correct symmetry for
the planar geometry. The charge enclosed on the top surface will
then be Q = t A. The tops surface normal is directed upward,
which is opposite the Earths electric field, so the flux through
the top of the pill box is = E0 A. Inside the dielectric, the
normal vector is in the same direction as the field, so the flux is
= +E A. Applying Gauss Law,
E A E 0 A =

t A
Qenc
=
0
0

Recall that the electric field inside a dielectric is reduced by factor

,
150 N
E0
N
C
E =
=
= 71

2.1
C
Solving for t ,

N
N
C2
(71
)

(150
)
= 7.01010 C/m2
t = 0 (E E0 ) = 8.85 1012
Nm2
C
C
Therefore, the magnitude of the surface charge density on each
side of the conductor is 7.0 1010 C/m2 .
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points