PHY 5346

HW Set 1 Solutions – Kimel

2
1.3 In general we take the charge density to be of the form ρ = fr⃗δ, where fr⃗ is determined by
physical constraints, such as ∫ ρd 3 x = Q.
a) variables: r, θ, φ. d 3 x = dφd cos θr 2 dr
ρ = fr⃗δr − R = frδr − R = fRδr − R

∫ ρd 3 x = fR ∫ r 2 drdΩdr − R = 4πfRR 2 = Q → fR = Q

4πR 2
Q
ρr⃗ = δr − R
4πR 2
b) variables: r, φ, z. d 3 x = dφdzrdr
ρr⃗ = fr⃗δr − b = fbδr − b

∫ ρd 3 x = fb ∫ dzdφrdrδr − b = 2πfbbL = λL → fb = λ

2πb
ρr⃗ = λ δr − b
2πb
c) variables: r, φ, z. d 3 x = dφdzrdr Choose the center of the disk at the origin, and the z-axis
perpendicular to the plane of the disk
ρr⃗ = fr⃗δzθR − r = fδzθR − r
where θR − r is a step function.
∫ ρd 3 x = f ∫ δzθR − rdφdzrdr = 2π R2 f = Q → f = πRQ 2
2

Q
ρr⃗ = δzθR − r
πR 2
d) variables: r, θ, φ. d 3 x = dφd cos θr 2 dr
ρr⃗ = fr⃗δcos θθR − r = frδcos θθR − r

∫ ρd 3 x = ∫ frδcos θθR − rdφd cos θr 2 dr = ∫ 0 frrrdrdφ = 2πN ∫ 0 rdr = πR 2 N = Q

R R

where I’ve used the fact that rdrdφ is an element of area and that the charge density is uniformly
distributed over area.
Q
ρr⃗ = δcos θθR − r
πR 2 r