PHY 121

Electromagnetic Theory
Problem Set - 4

Assigned Date: Feb 27

Due Date: Mar 5

This problem set is due at 5 : 00 PM on Mar 5. Do not consult any online material. Working with
your classmates is encouraged! But you should only hand in work that youve completed on your
own. If you cant explain each step of your solution then you havent completed the problem on
your own. Remember: the only way to be ready for the exams is to do the assignment yourself.
1. (20 points) Consider a long cylindrical coaxial capacitor with an inner conductor of radius a
and outer conductor of radius b, and filled with dielectric with dielectric constant K(r), which
varies with the cylindrical radius r. The capacitor is charged to a voltage V . Find out the radial
dependence of K(r) such that the energy density in the capacitor is a constant. Calculate electric
field for this condition.
2. (20 points) A capacitor is made of two plane parallel plates of width a and length b separated by
a distance d(d  a, b), as given in figure. The capacitor has a dielectric slab of relative dielectric
constant K between the two plates. The capacitor is connected to a battery of emf V . The
dielectric slab is partially pulled out of the plates such that only a length x remains between the
plates. Calculate the force on the dielectric slab which tends to pull it back into the plates.

3. (10 points) A rod of length L (insulating and of negligible thickness) has a uniform distribution
of charge q on the top half and q on the bottom half.

Find the monopole, dipole and quadrupole moments of the distribution.

4. (10 points) Do the same exercise for the case of a sphere of radius R and surface charge densities
0 , 0 on the upper and lower halves of the sphere, respectively.