2 JACOB LEWIS BOURJAILY

Therefore, we see that

G(x, x

) will automatically be a symmetric function if

F(x) F(x

) =
1
S
_

(G(x

, y) G(x, y)) da.

In particular, this will be true if we dene F(x) by
F(x) =
1
S
_

G(x, y)da.
We have shown that for any arbitrary Greens function, G(x, x

), satisfying Neumann
boundary conditions there exists a Greens function

G(x, x

) G(x, x

)
1
S
_

G(x, y)da,
which satises the same boundary conditions as G(x, x

) and has the property that

_

_

G(x, y)

n

G(x

, y)

G(x

, y)

n

G(x, y)
_
da = 0.
From our derivation in part (a), this implies that the Greens function

G(x, x

) is
symmetric.

o


2. Capacitance I
a) We are to determine the capacitance of two large, at, parallel conducting sheets of area A
separated by a distance d.
If we chose a Gaussian region that completely encloses one of the plates such that the
edges are arbitrarily small, then the surface integral of the electric eld will give E A
where E is the magnitude of the electric eld. Notice that we have used the fact that
the electric eld will be non-vanishing only between the plates.
Using Gauss law, was see that the surface integral is equal to the total charge contained
within the region divided by
0
. Specically, we have that
E A =
Q

0
=E =

0
,
where is the charge density on the surface of one of the plates.
The magnitude of the voltage dierence between the two plates is equal to the line
integral of the electric eld from one plate to the other. Because we know that in the
region between the two plates the electric eld is independent of position, this will
be simply V =
d

0
.
Therefore, using the denition of capacitance, we see that
C =
A
0
d
.
b) We are to determine the capacitance of two concentric conducting spheres with radii a and b
where b > a.
If we chose a Gaussian region that completely encloses the inner sphere, then the surface
integral of the electric eld will give E A where E is the magnitude of the electric
eld and A = 4r
2
, the area of the boundary of the region.
Using Gauss law, was see that the surface integral is equal to the total charge contained
within the region divided by
0
. Specically, we have that
E 4r
2
=
Q

0
=E =
Q
4
0
r
2
,
where a < r < b and Q is the charge on one of the spheres.
The magnitude of the voltage dierence between the two spheres is equal to the line
integral of the electric eld from one to the other. Specically,
V =
_
b
a
Ed =
Q
4
0
_
b
a
1
r
2
dr =
Q
4
0
b a
ab
.
Therefore, using the denition of capacitance, we see that
C =
4
0
ab
b a
.
PHYSICS 505: CLASSICAL ELECTRODYNAMICS HOMEWORK 1 3
c) We are to determine the capacitance of two concentric conducting cylinders of length L with
radii a and b where b > a.
If we chose a Gaussian region that completely encloses one the inner cylinder, then the
surface integral of the electric eld will give E A where E is the magnitude of the
electric eld and A = 2rL, the area of the boundary of the region.
Using Gauss law, was see that the surface integral is equal to the total charge contained
within the region divided by
0
. Specically, we have that
E 2rL =
Q

0
=E =
Q
2
0
Lr
,
where a < r < b and Q is the charge on one of the cylinders.
The magnitude of the voltage dierence between the two cylinders is equal to the line
integral of the electric eld from one to the other. Specically,
V =
_
b
a
Ed =
Q
2
0
L
_
b
a
dr
r
=
Q
4
0
log
_
b
a
_
.
Therefore, using the denition of capacitance, we see that
C =
2
0
L
log
_
b
a
_.
3. Capacitance II
We are to approximate the capacitance per unit length of two parallel, cylindrical conductors
with radii a
1
and a
2
which are separated by a distance d.
Let us work within the coordinate system such that the center of the rst cylinder, with
radius a
1
, is located at r = 0 and the second cylinder, with radius a
2
, is located at
r = d.
Because the electric eld is linear, we can consider the eld caused by each of the
conductors separately. Specically, for points between the two cylinders, we can add
the electric elds produced by each cylinder separately. We can determine the electric
eld per unit length induced by each cylinder by imagining a Gaussian region that
completely encloses a unit length of either cylinder. Therefore, for a point collinear
with the centers of each cylinder, we have that
E =
Q
2
0
r
+
Q
2
0
(d r)
.
The magnitude of the voltage dierence between the two cylinders is equal to the line
integral of the electric eld from one to the other. Specically,
V =
Q
2
0
_
da
2
a
1
_
1
r
+
1
d r
_
dr,
=
Q
2
0
_
log
_
d a
2
a
1
_
log
_
a
2
d a
1
__
,
=
Q
2
0
log
_
(d a
2
)(d a
1
)
a
1
a
2
_
,

Q
2
0
log
_
d
2
a
1
a
2
_
,
=
Q

0
log
_
d

a
1
a
2
_
.
Therefore, using the denition of capacitance per unit length, we see that
C

0
log
_
d

a
1
a
2
_.