ENGR 365 Problem Set #3 Due by 4pm on Fri. Oct.

8, 2010

1) A long cylinder carries a charge density that is proportional to the distance from the
axis ρ = kr for a constant k in cylindrical coordinates.
(a) In what direction does the electric field due to this charge density point? Explain.
(b) Find the electric field inside this cylinder.

2) (a) Find the electric field inside and outside a spherical shell of radius a which carries
a uniform surface charge density ρeS [C/m2].
(b) From the electric field, determine the potential inside and outside the shell. Hint:
 
set the reference point to ∞ and compute V   r E  d l .

3) (a) Consider an infinite sheet charge that is parallel to the x-y


plane. Assume a
2
uniform charge density ρeS [C/m ]. In whatdirection does E resulting from this
charge density point? Explain. Determine E for an arbitrary point above and below
the sheet charge.

(b) Consider two infinite sheet charges separated by a distance d carrying charge
densities of +ρeS and -ρeS, respectively. Both sheet charges
 are parallel to the x-y
plane and are centered over the plane z = 0. Determine E for an arbitrary point (i)
above the top
 sheet, (ii) in between the sheets, and (iii) below the bottom sheet. (iv)
From the E field, determine the electric potential V for a point in the middle of the
two sheet charges (ie. z = 0).

4) Consider a line charge of length L that has a uniform ρeL [C/m]. Assume one end is
located at (x = 0, y = 0, and z = L/2) and the other end is at (x = 0, y = 0, and z = -L/2).
(a) Using cylindrical coordinates, find an expression for the potential contribution, dV,
at a point (r, φ, z) caused by the differential length of charge, dz’, located at (z = z’).
(b) Find the total potential
 V at (r, φ, z) by integrating dz’ from –L/2 to +L/2.
(c) Describe how the E can be obtained from V.

5) Consider a square sheet charge of dimension b x b and has uniform charge density ρeS
[C/m2]. The sheet is parallel to the x-y plane and its centre is located at the origin.
We want to find the potential on an arbitrary point on the z-axis P (x=0,y=0,z).
(a) Determine the contribution dV due to a differential charge element of area dxdy.
Assume the element is located at (x = x’, y = y’, z = 0).
(b) Consider a differential line charge of length b [one end located at (x = b/2, y = y’, z
= 0) and the other at (x = -b/2, y = y’, z = 0)] and width dy’. What is the line charge
density ρeL in terms of ρeS? Find Vline due to this line charge. Hint: consider the
contribution dVline from the incremental line charge of width dx’, then integrate from –
b/2 to b/2.