Problem 2.

Consider a potential problem in the half-space dened by z  0, with Dirichlet boundary

conditions on the plane z = 0 (and at innity).
2.7.a. Write down the appropriate Green function
GD (~
x; ~
x0 )

=p

x01 )2 + (x2

(x

x03 )2

x02 )2 + (x3

(x

G(~x; ~x ).

x01 )2 + (x2

x02 )2 + (x3 + x03 )2

where x , x , and x denote the x, y , and z coordinates, respectively.

1

2.7.b.

If the potential on the plane z = 0 is specied to be  = V inside a circle of radius a centered

at the origin, and  = 0 outside that circle, nd an integral expression for the potential at
the point P specied in terms of cylindrical coordinates (; '; z ).
We're going to use equation 1.44 from Jackson:
I
1
D
da0
(1)
(~x) = 4 (~x0) @G
0
@n
S
Note that (~x0) = V inside the circle of radius a centered at the origin.
Let's convert GD (~x; ~x0) to cylindrical coordinates:
1
GD (~
x; ~
x0 ) = p
( cos ' 0 cos '0) + ( sin ' 0 sin '0) + (z z 0)
1
p
( cos ' 0 cos '0) + ( sin ' 0 sin '0) + (z + z 0)
1
=s
 + 0
0 (cos ' cos '0 + sin ' sin '0 ) + (z z 0 )
|
{z
}
2

s
2 + 02

2 + 02

cos('

=p

'0 )

0 (cos ' cos '0 + sin ' sin '0 ) + (z + z 0 )2

|
{z
}

1
0 cos('

cos('

'0 )

'0 ) + (z

z 0 )2

2 + 02

1
0 cos('

'0 ) + (z + z 0 )2

We need to nd the normal derivative of GD . Note that the normal points away from the
region of interest { since we're considering z  0, let n^ = z^0:
@GD
=
@n0 2

rGD (~x; ~x0)
( z^0)

* 0 1 @G > 0 @G 

61 @ 
0 + 0  0
= 4 0 @0 (0G ) + 0@'
@z



D

"

=
=

z =0

( + 0
2

7
5

2(z z 0)( 1)
0 cos(' '0 ) + (z

1
2 ( + 0

0 cos('
2z

'0 ) + z 2 )

z 0 )2 )

3=2

2 3 2

( + 0

3=2

2(z + z 0)
=
0 cos(' '0 ) + (z + z 0 ) )

+ 12
( +  0
0 cos('

'0 ) + z 2 )

3=2

( + 0 0 cos(' '0) + z ) =

Note that the terms which \cancel to zero" do so because the derivatives of the two terms
of GD sum to zero when evaluated at z 0 = 0.
Now, plug this into equation (1). Note that we only need to integrate over the circle which
has potential V because the integrand is zero elsewhere.
2

2 3 2

Z 
1
(~x) = 4
'0

=0

Vz
2

2

'0 =0

a
0 =0

(V )

( + 02
2

0

a
0 =0 ( + 02
2

2z
0 cos('

0 cos('

3=2
'0 ) + z 2 )

3=2
'0 ) + z 2 )

d0 d'0

2.7.c. Show
the axis of the circle (

 that, along

is

=V 1

Letting  = 0:

z
.
a2 +z 2

(~x) =

Vz
2

2

'0 =0

0

3=2
0 =0 (02 + z 2 )

0 d0 d'0

d0 d'0

= 0), the potential

#
z 0 =0

Using the substitution u = 0 + z and du = 20:

2

(~x) = V2z
Vz
2

"Z

2

'0 =0

2

a2 + z 2 1

du
2

u=z 2

3=2

d'0

u
a2 +z 2
1

( 2) u =

2
1 2

'0 =0
Z 2 

u=z 2

d'0

1
1
p
p
=
a +z
z
'0


1
= V2z 2 p 1
z
a +z
Vz
2

=0

1 p


2

d'0

a2 + z 2

2.7.d.

Show that at large distances ( + z  a ) the potential can be expanded in a power series
in ( + z ) , and that the leading terms are:
2

= 2
1 4 (3a+ z ) + 5 (3 a + a ) + : : :
=
8 ( + z )
( + z )
Verify that the results of part c and d are consistent with each other in their common range
of validity.
V a2

2 3 2

2 2

Z a
Z
0
V z 2
(~x) = 2
d0 d'0
2
0
2
0
0
2 3=2
0
0
 cos(' ' ) + z )
' =0  =0 ( + 

 3=2
Z 2 Z a

3=2
Vz
02 0 cos(' '0 )
0
2
2
= 2
  +z
1+
d0 d'0
2 + z 2
'0 =0 0 =0

Using the Taylor expansion (1 + x)n = 1 + nx + n(n 1)x + : : :

!
 0

Z  Z a
Vz
3
0
0 cos(' '0 )

0 cos(' '0 )
15
0
=
+
: : : d0 d'0
 1
+
=
2
 +z
4
 +z
2 ( + z ) '0 0


Z  Z a
Vz
3
0
0 cos(' '0 )
0
0 cos(' '0 )
15
0
=

+ : : : d0d'0
+ 4
=
2

+
z

+
z
0
0
2 ( + z ) ' 
Z  Z a
0 0 cos(' '0 )
Vz
0 3

=
2
 +z
2 ( + z ) = '0 0
0 +  0 cos (' '0 ) 20 cos(' '0 )
+ 15
+ : : : d0d'0
4
( + z )
Z 
0
 0 cos(' '0 )
Vz
3
1
0
=

2
 +z
2 ( + z ) = '0 2
a
0 +  0 cos (' '0 ) 2 0 cos(' '0 )
15
+ 4
+ : : : 0 d'0
( + z )
:
Z 

a
 a
cos(
' 
'0 )
Vz
1
3

=
a
2
 +z
2 ( + z ) = '0 2
:

a +  a cos (' '0 ) 2 a 
cos(
' 
'0 )
15

+ 4
+ : : : d'0
( + z )
Note that the \canceled" terms integrate to zero.


a
2 a +  a
Vz
1
3
15
=
2 2 a 2 2  + z + 4
+ :::
( + z )
2 ( + z ) =


V za
3
a
5
(
a + 3 a )
=
1 4 ( + z ) +
+ :::
4 ( + z )
2 ( + z ) =
2

2 3 2

=0

=0

2 3 2

=0

2 3 2

2 3 2

1
4

2 2

1
3

21
4

2 3 2

1
4

1
3

2 2

21
4

1
4

2 3 2

2 3 2

1
5

2 2

1
6

=0

=0

1
6

1
5

=0

1
6

=0

=0

=0

2 2

21
4
2 2

For  = 0:

1 34az + 54az + : : :
(~x) =

3
a
5
a
a
= V 2z 8z + 8z + : : :
2
V a2
2z2

6
6
6
V 61
6
4


|

a2
2z 2

=V 1 p

+ 38az 58az + : : :
{z


1+ a2

1=2

7
7
7
7
7
}5

a2 + z 2

Hence, parts c and d agree in the limit where z  a .

2

Problem 2.9

An insulated, spherical, conducting shell of radius a is in a uniform electric eld E . If

the sphere is cut into two hemispheres by a plane perpendicular to the eld, nd the force
required to prevent the hemispheres from separating
0

2.9.a. If the shell is uncharged.

From Jackson's example problem in section 2.5, we know that the surface-charge density is
given by:
 = 3" E cos 
0

Using the equation shown in gure 2.4:

dF
da

= 2"
= 9" E2"cos 
= 9" E2"cos  cos 
0
2
0

2
0

2
0

2
0

dFz
da

jFz j =

2

'=0


=0

9 " E cos
2
0

2
0



2 sin dd'

=a

Using the substitution u = cos , du = sin :

jFz j =

2

'=0

9" E u (
2

u=1

= 29 a " E
= 92 " a E
= 49 " a e
2

2
0

2
0

Z
2
0

2

'=0
2

du)d'

u=1

u3 dud'

1 u  d'
4 
4

0
1

'=0

2 2
0

Q.

2.9.b. If the total charge on the shell is

The surface charge density on the sphere of charge Q is:

Q

Q
= 4a

Now, we nd the same method as above to nd the force between the two hemispheres of
equal charge:
dF
da

= 2"

= 16Q a 21"
= 32Q" a cos 
2

dFz
da

jFz j =

2

'=0

=0

Q2
322"0a4

cos  sin dd'

2

=a

Using the substitution u = sin , du = cos :

jFz j =

Q2
322"0a2
2

= 32Q" a
2

2

'=0
Z 2

'=0

= 32Q" a 12 2
Q
= 32"
a
2

u=0

1 d'
2

udud'

The total force on the sphere due to the sphere's own charge Q and the electric eld is the
sum of the force found in part a and the force we just found:
Q
jFtotal j = 94 " a e + 32"
a
2

2 2
0

Problem 2.10

A large parallel plate capacitor is made up of two plane conducting sheets with separation
D, one of which has a small hemispherical boss of radius a on its inner surface D  a. The
conductor with the boss is kept at zero potential, and the other conductor is at a potential
such that far from the boss the electric eld between the plates is E .
0

=E

Figure 1: Setup for problem 2.10

2.10.a. Calculate the surface-charge densities at any arbitrary point
on the plane and on the boss, and sketch their behavior as a function of distance (or angle).

Assuming the planes to be innite and very far from each other, we see that this system can
be approximated by grounded sphere in a uniform electric eld (we are given that the purpose
of the non-grounded plate is to cause the electric eld between the plates to be constant and
uniform). Hence, equation 2.14 from Jackson gives the electric potential between the plates:
=

E0

a3
r2

cos 

On the boss, the surface-charge density is the same as equation 2.15 from Jackson:
 = 3" E cos 
0

(2)

To nd the surface-charge density on the grounded plane (located at z = 0), we rst convert
equation (2) to Cartesian coordinates:


a3
1
E0 r| cos

{z }
r3
z

 a 3 
E0 z 1
r

=
=



@ 
"0

@z z =0

 a 3 
E0 1
r

=
=

2.10.b. Show that the total charge on the boss has the magnitude
"0 E0 a2 .

We will integrate the surface-charge density over the surface area of the boss to nd its net
charge:
Q

3" E cos da

0

= 3" E
0

= 3a " E
2

2

'=0

==2
2 Z 

'=0

cos  sin dd'

=a

==2

cos  sin dd'

Using the substitution u = sin , du = cos :

Q

= 3a " E
2

= 3a " E
2

Z
0

2

'=0
Z 2
'=0

= 3a " E 21 2
= 3a " E
2

u=0

udud'

1 u 
2 u
2

=0

d'

2.10.c.

If, instead of the other conducting sheet at a dierent potential, a point charge q is placed
directly above the hemispherical boss at a distance d from its center, show that the charge
induced on the boss is:


d
a
0
p
q = q 1
d d +a
This system is shown in gure 2.
2

aq
d

q
d z

a2
d

aq
d

= ad2

=d

Figure 2: Setup for problem 2.10.c

The potential for this system is:
2

1
 = 4"

4q

x21 + x22 + (x3

+q

aq
d
2
1

+x +
2
2

x3 +

d)

a2 2

+q

aq

d
q
x21 + x22 + x3

a2 2
d

q
2
1

+ x + (x + d)
2
2

5
2

Converting to spherical coordinates:

2

1
 = 4"

q
4p
2
 + 2d cos  + d2

+q

2

aq
d

2 d  cos  +
a2

a2 2
d

aq
d

+q

a2 2
d

2 + 2 ad  cos  +

+p

2d cos  + d


@ 
"0

@r =a

= 41 64 12 q (2 + 2d cos ) =

( + 2d cos  + d )
aq
d

1
2 

'=0

= 81
+

2

a2

'=0

aq
d

2 2 ad2 cos 

q (2

3 2

1
2 (

3=2
a2 2

a2
d

2d cos )
2d cos  + d ) =

2 3 2

3
7
5


()  sin dd'
2

==2
2

2 ad2  cos  +

2 3 2

2 + 2 cos 
1

2  + 2 a2  cos  + a2
 =
d
d
aq
d

=a

==2

6
4

q (2a + 2d cos )

2 3 2

2a 2 cos 
a2
d

3=2
a2 2

2 ad2 a cos  +
"

+

(a + 2da cos  + d ) =

(a

q (2a
2

aq
d

2a + 2 ad2 cos 

2 3 2

3=2
a2 2
d

a2 + 2 ad a cos  +
3

2d cos )
2da cos  + d ) =

7 2
5 a sin dd'

Z 
1
a +d
a
= 8
2q ap + d d + 2qa p
+ 2qa ap+ d a 2q ap + d d
a +d
d a +d
d a +d
a +d
'
"
#
p
p
p
p
1
a +d
d
a +d
a
a +d
a
a +d
d
= 8 2 2q p
+ 2qa p
+ 2qa p
2q p
a +d
d a +d
d a +d
a +d
p
= q ap + d d q p a
d a +d
p a +d
= q d a +pd (d a )
d a +d


d
a
= q 1 p
d a +d
2

=0

10

#
d'