Jackson 3.

2 Homework Problem Solution

Dr. Christopher S. Baird
University of Massachusetts Lowell
PROBLEM:
A spherical surface of radius R has charge uniformly distributed over its surface with a density
Q/4R
2
, except for a spherical cap at the north pole, defined by the cone = .
(a) Show that the potential inside the spherical surface can be expressed as
4=
Q
8c
0

l=0

1
2l +1
P
l +1
(coso)P
l1
(cos o)|
r
l
R
l+1
P
l
(cos 0)
where, for l = 0, P
l-1
(cos ) = -1. What is the potential outside?
(b) Find the magnitude and the direction of the electric field at the origin.
(c) Discuss the limiting forms of the potential (part a) and electric field (part b) as the spherical cap
becomes (1) very small, and (2) so large that the area with charge on it becomes a very small cap at the
south pole.
SOLUTION:
Because of the spherical geometry of the problem and the absence of charge in the region where we
want to find the potential, we choose to solve the Laplace equation in spherical coordinates. Using
separation of variables, the general solution for azimuthal symmetry becomes:
4(r ,0 ,)=

l
( A
l
r
l
+B
l
r
l 1
) P
l
(cos 0)
The problem does not specify a boundary condition, only a charge distribution. We can convert this to
a boundary condition using the Gaussian pillbox method:

(E
out
E
in
)r=
1
c
0
u
|
n=n
0
u=c
0

4
out
r
+
4
in
r
|
r=R
where
u=
Q
4 R
2
if 0>o and u=0 if 0o
It becomes apparent that we must solve the potential both on the inside and the outside at the same
times and apply multiple boundary conditions.
For the potential inside the sphere, there must be a valid solution at the origin. This forces B
l
= 0.
4
in
=

l
A
l
r
l
P
l
(cos0)
For the potential outside the sphere, there must be a finite solution at infinity, this forces A
l
= 0 for l > 0
4
out
=A
0, out
+

l
B
l
r
l1
P
l
(cos0)
The A
0
term in the outer potential is obviously the value of the potential at infinity. The potential of a
localized charge distribution at infinity is the potential of a point charge with a charge magnitude of the
total charge of the distribution.
4
out
( r-)=
1
4c
0
Q
tot
r
1
4c
0
Q
tot
r
=

A
0, out
+

l
B
l
r
l1
P
l
(cos 0)
|
r -
1
4c
0
Q
tot
r
=A
0, out
+B
0
1
r
This must be true for all r, so that
A
0, out
=0
and B
0
=
Q
tot
4c
0
We can calculate the total charge by integrating over the charge density:
Q
tot
=

0
2

u R
2
sin (0) d 0d
Q
tot
=
Q
4R
2

0
2

R
2
sin (0) d 0d
Q
tot
=
Q
2
(cos(o)+1)
B
0
=
Q
8c
0
(cos(o)+1)
4
out
=(cos(o)+1)
Q
8c
0
r
+

l =1

B
l
r
l1
P
l
(cos0)
The potential must be continuous so that
4
in
(r=R)=4
out
(r=R)
. This leads to
A
0
+

l =1

A
l
R
l
P
l
(cos0)=( cos(o)+1)
Q
8c
0
R
+

l =1

B
l
R
l1
P
l
(cos 0)
This must hold for all values of , so that every coefficient in the series must equate:
A
0
=(cos(o)+1)
Q
8c
0
R
and B
l
=A
l
R
2l+1
The potential inside and outside now becomes:
4
in
=(cos(o)+1)
Q
8c
0
R
+

l =1

A
l
r
l
P
l
(cos0)
4
out
=(cos(o)+1)
Q
8c
0
r
+

l =1

A
l
R
2l +1
r
l1
P
l
(cos 0)
Now apply the last boundary condition:
u=c
0

4
out
r
+
4
in
r
|
r=R
u=c
0

(cos(o)+1)
Q
8c
0
r
2
+

l =1

A
l
R
2l +1
(l 1) r
l 2
P
l
(cos0)|+

l =1

A
l
l r
l 1
P
l
( cos0)|
|
r=R
u=(cos(o)+1)
Q
8R
2
+c
0
l=1

A
l
R
l1
(2l +1) P
l
(cos0)
Multiply both sides by
P
l '
(cos 0)sin0
where l' > 0 and integrate

u P
l '
( cos0)sin 0d 0=c
0

l =1

A
l
R
l 1
( 2l +1)

P
l
(cos 0) P
l '
(cos0)sin 0 d 0

u P
l
(cos0) sin0d 0=2c
0
A
l
R
l 1
A
l
=
1
2c
0
R
l +1

u P
l
(cos 0)sin0 d 0
A
l
=
1
2c
0
R
l +1 Q
4R
2

P
l
(cos 0)sin0 d 0
A
l
=
Q
8c
0
R
l1 1
2l +1

1
cos( o)
d
dx
P
l+1
( x)P
l 1
( x)| dx
A
l
=
Q
8c
0
R
l1 1
2l +1
P
l+1
( x)P
l 1
( x)|
1
cos ( o)
A
l
=
Q
8c
0
R
l1 1
2l +1
P
l+1
(cos(o))P
l 1
(cos(o))P
l +1
(1)+P
l1
(1)|
A
l
=
Q
8c
0
R
l1 1
2l +1
P
l+1
(cos(o))P
l 1
(cos(o))|
The constants are now all found and the final solution becomes:
4
in
=(cos(o)+1)
Q
8c
0
R
+

l =1

Q
8c
0
1
2l +1
P
l +1
( cos(o))P
l1
(cos(o))|
r
l
R
l+1
P
l
(cos0)
The l = 0 term can be combined with the other terms if we make the definition P
-1
(cos ) = -1
4
in
=
Q
8c
0

l =0

1
2l +1
P
l+1
(cos(o))P
l 1
(cos(o))|
r
l
R
l +1
P
l
(cos 0)
4
out
=
Q
8c
0

l=0

1
2l +1
P
l+1
(cos(o))P
l 1
(cos(o))|
R
l
r
l+1
P
l
(cos0)
(b) Find the magnitude and the direction of the electric field at the origin.
E( r=0)=

4
in
|
r=0
E( r=0)=

r
4
in
r
+

0
1
r
4
in
0
|
r =0
E( r=0)= r

r
Q
8c
0

l=0

1
2l +1
P
l+1
(cos(o))P
l 1
(cos(o))|
r
l
R
l +1
P
l
(cos 0)
+

0
1
r

0
Q
8c
0

l=0

1
2l +1
P
l+1
(cos(o))P
l 1
(cos(o))|
r
l
R
l +1
P
l
(cos 0)|
r=0
One must be careful to realize that the l = 0 term does not depend on r or , so that its derivative with
respect to r or is zero.
E(r=0)= r

l=1

Q
8c
0
l
2l +1
P
l +1
(cos(o))P
l1
(cos(o))|
r
l1
R
l +1
P
l
( cos 0)
+

l=1

Q
8c
0
1
2l +1
P
l+1
(cos(o))P
l 1
(cos(o))|
r
l1
R
l +1
(l cos 0 P
l
(cos0)l P
l1
(cos 0))
sin0
|
r=0
The l = 2 terms and higher all equate to zero at the origin. Only the l = 1 terms are independent or r and
do not zero out.
E( r=0)=
Q
24c
0
R
2
P
2
(cos(o))P
0
(cos(o))| r cos0

0sin 0|
E( r=0)=
Qsin
2
(o)
16c
0
R
2
z
(c) Discuss the limiting forms of the potential (part a) and electric field (part b) as the spherical cap
becomes (1) very small, and (2) so large that the area with charge on it becomes a very small cap at the
south pole.
As the spherical cap becomes very small, 0 and cos() (1-
2
/2).
P
l
(cos(o))P
l
(1
1
2
o
2
)
Use the Taylor series expansion:
P
l
( x)=P
l
(1)+P'
l
(1)( x1)
P
l
(cos(o))1
1
2
o
2
P'
l
(1)
We can use this to expand the term we will need:
P
l+1
(cos(o))P
l 1
(cos(o))1
1
2
o
2
P '
l +1
(1)1+
1
2
o
2
P'
l 1
(1)
P
l +1
(cos(o))P
l1
(cos(o))
1
2
o
2
( P'
l +1
(1)P'
l 1
(1))
P
l +1
(cos(o))P
l1
(cos(o))
1
2
o
2
(2l +1)
We must be careful and handle the l = 0 case separately:
P
1
(cos(o))P
1
(cos(o))=cos(o)+1
P
1
(cos(o))P
1
(cos(o))2
1
2
o
2
Plug these expansions into the solutions found in (part a)
4
in
=
Q
8c
0
2
1
2
o
2
|
1
R
+
Q
8c
0

l=1

1
2l +1

1
2
o
2
(2l +1)|
r
l
R
l +1
P
l
(cos 0)
4
in
=
Q
4c
0
R

Qo
2
16c
0

l =0

r
l
R
l +1
P
l
(cos 0)
The sum is just the Green function expansion of the potential due to a unit point charge on the z axis, so
that:
4
in
=
Q
4c
0
R

Qo
2
16c
0
1
rRz
This physically corresponds to the potential due to a complete charged sphere plus the potential due to
an oppositely charged point particle at the point where the positive z axis crosses the sphere.
The potential outside the sphere is found in a similar way and gives similar results:
4
out
=
Q
8c
0
2
1
2
o
2
|
1
r
+
Q
8c
0

l =1

1
2l +1

1
2
o
2
( 2l +1)|
R
l
r
l +1
P
l
(cos0)
4
out
=
Q
4c
0
r

Qo
2
16c
0

l =0

R
l
r
l +1
P
l
(cos 0)
4
out
=
Q
4c
0
r

Qo
2
16 c
0
1
rR z
The electric field at the origin becomes, when using sin(o)o
E( r=0)=
Qo
2
16c
0
R
2
z
The other extreme is when . Define the angle of the small cap of charge as
2
so that =
2
and the problem now to apply
2
0 . We have cos() = cos(
2
) = -cos(
2
) -(1 -
2
2
/2). With the
problem set up this way, the approach is almost identical to that above.
P
l
(cos(o))=(1)
l
P
l
(1
1
2
o
2
2
)
P
l
(cos(o))(1)
l
(
1
1
2
o
2
2
P'
l
(1)
)
P
l +1
(cos(o))P
l1
(cos(o))(1)
l 1
2
o
2
2
(2l +1)
4
in
=
Qo
2
2
16c
0

l =0

(1)
l r
l
R
l +1
P
l
(cos 0)
4
in
=
Qo
2
2
16c
0

l =0

r
l
R
l +1
P
l
(cos0)
4
in
=
Qo
2
2
16c
0
1
r(R z)
4
out
=
Qo
2
2
16c
0
1
r(R z)
These solutions correspond physically to a point charge at the point where the negative z axis crosses
the sphere.
The electric field at the origin becomes:
E( r=0)=
Qo
2
2
16c
0
R
2
z
Note that the electric field at the origin due to a point charge at z = -R is the same as that due to an
oppositely charged point charge at z = R.