Separation of Variables - Spherical Coordinates

Monday, September 14, 2015

9:33 AM

Background to solving Laplace's equation with spherical symmetry

Obviously, if you have boundaries that are spherical or consist of sections of a sphere,
you would use spherical coordinates to solve your problem.
In spherical coordinates, Laplace's Equation takes the form:

Here are two conditions that will make your life a bit easier.

1. First off, when solving Laplace's equation (as opposed to Poisson's equation),
you can cancel off the factor of 1/r2.
2. Next, it is almost always the case in qualifying exam problems that the
electric potential, V, is independent of the azimuthal angle .
If this is the case, Laplace's equation takes the form:

This is solved in the exact same way as we've been doing before - but with one
modification. THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE THESE TWO EQUATIONS IS TO ALLOW
OUR CONSTANTS (C1, C2) TO BE EQUAL TO [+/- l(l+1)]

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The general solution for R(r) is:

NOTE: it is very important to realize that the terms:

If we have a situation where r goes to infinity or zero, we must set the constant A
or B accordingly equal to zero to stop the electric potential from going to infinity.

Anyway, the general solution to the angular equation is more complex. Here,
theta is a function of Legendre polynomials, such that:

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As before, separation of variables yields an infinite number of solutions - one for

each value of l. The general solution is the linear combination of each solution

As with our result in Cartesian coordinates, Legendre Polynomials are orthogonal.

Therefore.

Inside the sphere

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Again, we would need to know precisely what V 0() is to continue solving this problem.
Even if the potential on the surface were constant (V 0), we'd have to qualify the problem.
One potential example is to phrase the problem like this:
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One potential example is to phrase the problem like this:

The potential at the surface of a sphere of Radius R is kept constant at V 0. Solve for the
potential inside the sphere. You may expand your problem out to consider polynomials of
order l<3 (note: I'm solving this quickly - this type of solution would not get you full credit
on a qualifying exam)

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Example: Grounded Sphere in a previously uniform electric-field

A grounded metal sphere of radius, a, is placed in an otherwise uniform electric field
Find the potential in the region outside the sphere. From your result, calculate the induced
charge density on the sphere

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To find the induced charge density on the sphere:

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