PH102, Electrodynamics

Midsemester Exam

March 2, 2016
2 - 4 PM

Question 1: Answer the following short questions:

a) Evaluate the following integrals:

+1

(x 4)2 (5x) dx

i
1

 4

r + r2 (r c) + c4 3 (r c) d , where integration volume v is a sphere of radius 6, cen-

ii
v

tered at origin and c = 5

x + 3
y + 2
z and r = |r|.
Solution:

i Let y = 5x. Then (x 4)2 (5x) dx = (y/5 4)2 (y)dy/5 = 16/5.

ii |~c| = 38 > 6. Thus since ~c is outside the region of integration, integral is zero.
b) If is a scalar field on R3 , show that is normal to the level surfaces of .
Solution:
Let dr be the displacement along (tangential) the level surface, then = (r + dr) (r) = 0. But
by definition of the gradient, = dr 0 hence must be perpendicular to any tangent to level
surface.

1
c) If the electric field, E(r) =
Ar + B sin cos , where A, B are constants, find the volume
r
charge density.
Solution:

1
1 E
Volume charge density is given by = 0 E = 0
r2 Er +
2
r r
r sin

A
0 as R 0.
Just a quick check at origin, E dS = 4R2 . R


= 0

A
r2

B
r2

sin .

PH102, Electrodynamics
Midsemester Exam

March 2, 2016
2 - 4 PM

d) A spherical shell of radius R1 with a charge q uniformly distributed on the surface, is expanded to
a radius R2 . Find the work performed by the electric forces in this process.
Solution:
The potential of a uniformly charged spherical shell is kq/r. The potential on the surface is kq/R1 . Then
the energy of the shell is 12 kq 2 /R1 . The work done by electrical forces must be 21 kq 2 (1/R1 1/R2 ). (Sign
is significant.)
e) A cylindrical dielectric material, with its axis along the z axis, has radius 2 and length 5 (0 < z < 5).
If the polarization in the dielectric material is given by P = s(2+sin )s +3z
z, find all bound charges.
(s, , z) are cylindrical coordinates.
Solution:
The bound volume charge density is P = (7 + 2 sin ). Surface charge densities: at (z = 0) = 0,
(z = 5) = 15, and (s = 2) = 2(2 + sin ).
f) A short cylinder, of radius a and length 2a, carries a "frozen-in" uniform polarization P, parallel to
its axis. Draw a careful sketch of the field lines of the displacement field and the electric field, both
inside and outside the cylinder, on separate diagrams.
Solution:

The field lines for electric field and displacement fields. Note that the D field lines must form closed loops.

PH102, Electrodynamics
Midsemester Exam

March 2, 2016
2 - 4 PM

Question 2:
a) A point charge is kept at the point (0, 0, d). Find the net electric flux through the upper hemisphere
(see figure) of radius R(> d) centered at the origin.
b) The electric field in a region is given by E = x
x. Find the energy stored in the region common to
the intersecting cylinders x2 + y 2 = a2 and x2 + z 2 = a2 . (Use cartesian coordinates.)

(a)

(b)

Solution:
a) The net electric flux is given by

= R

=
=

/2

sin dE r

d
0

qR2
40

/2

sin d

(Rr d
z)
(R2

+ d2 2Rd cos )3/2

(R d cos )
qR2 /2
sin d
20 0
(R2 + d2 2Rd cos )3/2


q
d
1+
20
d2 + R2

b) The net energy is given by

0
2
=

0
2

E 2 dv
v

x dx

a2 x2

aa

a2 x2

dy

x2 a2 x2 dx

= 20
a

80 a5
15

a2 x2

a2 x2

dz

PH102, Electrodynamics
Midsemester Exam

March 2, 2016
2 - 4 PM

Question 3: A dipole is kept on the z axis at a distance d from the origin. The dipole moment
is in the xz plane making an angle with the z axis (see fig). A conducting grounded
+ pz z
~p = px x
sheet lies in the xy plane.
a) What is the image of the dipole and what is its location? (Hint: Imagine a physical dipole made
up of equal and opposite charges)
b) Write down the potential at a general point r (x, y, z) in the region z > 0. Show explicitly that the
potential at a point in xy plane, due to the dipole and its image, is zero (use cartesian coordinates).
c) Find the induced surface charge density on the conductor.
d) Find the torque on the dipole. For which angles , the magnitude of the torque is maximum? For
which angles , the torque is zero?

Solution:
+ pz z
.
a) Image dipole is at d
z and its dipole moment ~p0 = px x
b) The potential at a point (x, y, z) is

V (x, y, z) =

40 

~p (r d
z)
x2 + y 2 + (z d)2

3/2 + 

~p0 (r + d
z)
x2 + y 2 + (z + d)2

3/2

40 

px x + pz (z d)
px x + pz (z + d)
3/2 + 
3/2
x2 + y 2 + (z d)2
x2 + y 2 + (z + d)2

Clearly,
V (x, y, 0) = 0.
c) The induced charge on the surface of the conductor will be

V 
(x, y) = 0 Ez (z = 0) = 0
z z=0
=

3px d x + pz x2 + y 2 2d2

2 (d2 + x2 + y 2 )5/2

d) The electric field at the point of the dipole, due to the image will be
E=





1
1
0
0

+ 2pz z
)
3
p

z
z

p
=
(px x
3
40 (2d)
40 (2d)3

The torque is then

N=pE=

px pz y
40 (2d)3

The torque is maximum when = 45 or 3/4 and is zero when is 0, /2 and .

PH102, Electrodynamics
Midsemester Exam

March 2, 2016
2 - 4 PM

Question 4: A rectangular pipe, running parallel to the z-axis (from to ), has two grounded
metal sides, at y = 0, and at y = a. At x = 0 side, the normal component of electric field is zero, that
is, V /x = 0, where V is the potential function. The fourth side, at x = b, is maintained at a constant
potential Vo .
a) Use the method of variable separation and write down the product solutions which satisfy boundary
conditions at y = 0, y = a and x = 0.
b) Find the potential everywhere inside the pipe. Leave your answer in series form.
c) What is the induced charge density on the y = a surface? Again leave your anwer in series form.

Solution:
a) The solutions are
X = Aekx + Bekx
Y

= C sin(ky) + D cos(ky)

Applying BC to Y implies that D = 0 and k = kn = n/a where n is a positive integer. Applying

BC to X,

dX 
= Ak Bk = 0 = A = B.
dx x=0
Thus the solutions which satisfy three given BCs are
 nx 
 ny 
Vn (x, y) = XY = cosh
sin
a
a
b) The solution must be LC of Vn . Let
V (x, y) =

An cosh

 nx 

sin

 ny 
a

Now, we want V (b, y) = V0 , then

X


An cosh

nb
a


sin

 ny 
a

= V0

By, fourier trick,

a
 ny 
2


dyV
sin
0
a
a cosh nb
0
a

4V0

odd n
n cosh( nb
a )
=
0
even n

An =

So, the potential inside the pipe is given by

V (x, y) =

X
n=1,3,...

4V0
n cosh
5

cosh
nb
a

 nx 
a

sin

 ny 
a

PH102, Electrodynamics
Midsemester Exam

March 2, 2016
2 - 4 PM

c) At y = a surface, the normal to the conductor is in

y direction. Then,

 nx 
X
V 
4V0


(x) = 0
=
cos (n)
cosh
y y=a
a
a cosh nb
a
n=1,3,...
 nx 
X
4V0


=
cosh
a
a cosh nb
a
n=1,3,...