Physics 132 Homework #3 1

Homework 3

Ch. 24: 19, 25, 29, 43, 45

Ch. 25: 8, 10

à 19)

Gauss ' s Law : ε0 Φ = qenc

ü a) The electric field at points outside the conducting shell

The total charge enclosed by a Gaussian

qenc = qrod + qshell = H+qL + H−2 qL = −q

cylinder enclosing the conducting shell and the rod is :

The electric field will point outward radially from the

shell and be perpendicular to the surface in every direction. Thus,
the angle between the field and the normal vector to the surface
is zero so the flux through the Gaussian cylinder will be :
Φ = E A cos 0 = E A
The flux through the two ends of the cylinder will be zero because the electric field
is parallel to the surface leaving only the cylindrical surface area A = 2 π r h
We choose the cylinder to be of height h =
L so that it just encloses the shell and rod lengthwise.
Putting this all into Gauss ' s Law, we get :

ε0 E 2 π r L = −q

Solving for E, we get :

−q
E =
2 π ε0 r L

for any place outside the shell in the radial direction at distance r
 Physics 132 Homework #3 2

ü b) The distribution of charge on the shell

The positively charged rod within the shell will attract

charges onto the inside surface of the shell with net charge − q
This leaves a net charge of − q on the outside surface of the shell

qtotal = qinner + qouter = H−qL + H−qL = −2 q

Total charge in the shell is conserved :

ü c) The electric field in the region between the shell and the rod

Between the shell and the rod, the total enclosed charge is simply the rod.
Thus, qenc = +q
The same type of Gaussian cylinder in part aL is used here so

+q
E=
2 π ε0 r L

for any place between the shell and rod

à 25)

The infinitely long cylinder of radius R will be similar to the

infinitely long wire except that instead of a linear charge density λ,
we will have a volume charge density ρ JReminder : ρ = N
charge
volume

ü a) inside the cylinder (r<R)

The electric field will point radially out from the

cylinder. If we draw a Gaussian cylinder of height h and radius r
coaxial with the charged cylinder, it will enclose a charge of :
qenc = ρ V = ρ π r2 h
where V, the volume of the Gaussian cylinder, is π r2 h.

Since the electric field points in the radial direction, it will form a
90° angle with the normal vector to the ends of the
Gaussian cylinder and the flux there will be zero Icos 90° = 0M. Thus,
we need only deal with the flux through the curved part of the Gaussian cylinder,
which has a surface area of 2 π r h

So, the electric flux through the Gaussian cylinder is :

Φ = EA = E2πrh
since the electric field and the normal vector are in the
 Physics 132 Homework #3 3

Applying Gauss ' s Law Hqenc = ε0 Φ L, we get :

same direction everywhere on that part of the Gaussian cylinder.

ρ π r2 h = ε0 E 2 π r h

Solving for E, we get

ρr
E =
2 ε0

ü b) outside the charged cylinder (r>R)

The same rules to drawing our Gaussian cylinder apply for outside
the charged cylinder except now the enclosed charge is not the radius r
of the Gaussian cylinder but the radius R of the charged cylinder since
the charge is only located inside the infinitely long charged cylinder

The flux is the same HΦ = E A = E 2 π r hL as is Gauss ' s law Hqenc = ε0 ΦL, so we get :
qenc = ρ π R2 h

ρ π R2 h = ε0 E 2 π r h
This time solving for E, R and r do not cancel , so
ρ R2
E =
2 ε0 r

à 29)

For this ball to be holding in a position where the thread makes an

angle of 30° with the sheet, the tension created in the thread from the
electrical repulsion between the ball and the sheet must balance the
gravitational pull. Let T be the magnitude of the tension in the thread.
Using the component version of the equilibrium equation,
Σ Fx = 0
Σ Fy = 0

The forces in the x − direction are the Coulomb force FC and the x −
component of the tension in the thread
Σ Fx = FC + Tx = 0

The forces in the y −

direction are the gravitational force Fg and the y − component of the tension
Σ Fy = Fg + Ty = 0

The x − and y − components of the tension are related to the magnitude of the tension and
the angle it makes with the axis by the usual vector decomposition equations :
Tx = T sin θ
Ty = T cos θ
 Physics 132 Homework #3 4

The gravitational force near the earth is given by the usual

Hnegative since it points in the negative y − directionL

Fg = − m g

The Coulomb force is related to the electric field by :

Fc = q E
and the electric field due to an infinite
charged sheet is derived using Gauss ' s law and is given by :
σ
E =
2 ε0
Thus,
qσ
Fc =
2 ε0

Hwe add a negative sign in front of Tx since it points in the negative x − directionL :
Combining these expressions we get

qσ
− T sin θ = 0
2 ε0
− m g + T cos θ = 0
Solving each of these for the common term T, we get :
qσ 1
T =
2 ε0 sin θ
mg
T =
cos θ

Equating the two T ' s and solving for σ Hwhat the problem asksL, we get :
2 ε0 m g tan θ
σ =
q

i y
Now plugging in the values for the variables,
j
j z
z
jm = V m = z
F F C 1 C 1 C2 1 C2 1 C2 s2
k {
ε0 = 8.85 × 10−12 J = = kg m =
m C
m Nm m s2 m m kg m3

m = 1.0 mg H = 1.0 × 10−3 g = 1.0 × 10−6 kgL

q = 2.0 × 10−8 C

m
g = 9.81 2
s
θ = 30°

We get
C2 s2 m
−9 kg m3 kg s2 nC
σ = 5.0 × 10 = 5.0
C m2

(2 significant figures since the values of m and g are given to two significant figures)
 Physics 132 Homework #3 5

à 43)

ü a) Electric field within the sphere (r<a)

Inside the charged sphere, we draw a Gaussian sphere of radius r

The electric field points outward radially from the center of the sphere and
thus points in the same direction as the normal vector to the surface of the
Gaussian sphere.This means the angle between them is zero and since cos 0° = 1,
the flux is :
Φ = E A = E 4 π r2
where A, the surface area of a sphere, is 4 π r2
To calculate the amount of charge enclosed at radius r,
we first determine the volume charge density ρ
q q
ρ = = 4
Vsphere 3 π a3
The amount enclosed is then :
π r3 = q I M
q 4 r 3
qenc = ρ Venc = 4
3 a
Now, applying Gauss ' s Law Hε0 Φ = qenc L,
3 πa
3

ε0 E 4 π r2 = q I M
r 3
a
Solving for E, we get :
q r
E =

i y
4 π ε0 a3
j
j are correct for electric fieldz
z
jNote : the units C2 z
C m N
k {
3
=
2
m C
Nm

ü b)Electric field between the sphere and the shell (a<r<b)

For the the volume between the sphere and the shell,
the charge enclosed becomes the entire sphere but the form of the flux remains the same
qenc = q
Putting this into Gauss ' s Law yields :
ε0 E 4 π r2 = q

Thus,
q 1
E =
HNote : this E is just the same as if the sphere were a point chargeL
4 π ε0 r2
 Physics 132 Homework #3 6

ü c) Electric field inside the shell (b<r<c)

Inside a conductor, the electric field is zero.

ü d) Electric field outside the shell (r>c)

The Gaussian sphere now includes both the

qenc = qsphere + qshell = H−qL + H+qL = 0

shell and the sphere so the total enclosed charge is

Thus, by Gauss ' s Law ,

E = 0

ü e) Surface charges of shell

The sphere attracts a charge of −

q to the inner surface of the shell leaving the outer shell with a charge of 0.

qtotal = qinner + qouter = H−1L + 0 = −1

Charge in the shell is conserved.
 Physics 132 Homework #3 7

à 45)
A
ρ = for the spherical shell where r ' is the amount of r within the shell
r'

shell enclosed by a Gaussian sphere with radius Ha < r < bL,

To find the amount of charge in the

by their charge density Hthis is necessary because ρ is not constant

we need to add up all of the infintessimal shells of volume multiplied

and depends on how much of the volume has been added in alreadyL
qshellenc = ‡ ρ dV
4
since the volum e of the shell is V = π r '3
3
dV
= 4 π r '2 or dV = 4 π r '2 dr '
dr '

Putting this and the definition of ρ into the integral,

setting the limits of integration from the inner surface of the shell at r =
a to the radius of the Gaussian sphere r

qshellenc = ‡ 4 π r '2 dr ' = 4 π A ‡ r ' dr ' = 4 π A Hr2 − a2 L

r r
A 1
a r' a 2

qenc = qpoint + qshellenc = H+qL + 2 π A Hr2 − a2 L

So, the enclosed charge by a Gaussian sphere of r > a is :

ε0 E 4 π r2 = q + 2 π A Hr2 − a2 L
By Gauss ' s Law,

i q + 2 π A − 2 π A a2 z
y
Solving for E,
j
4 π ε0 k r2 r2 {
1
E =

In order for E to be uniform throughout the shell,

it cannot depend upon r so the terms that depend on r must cancel
q a2
2
− 2πA 2 =0
r r

so A must equal :
q
A =
2 π a2

à 8)

E HrL =
qr
4 π ε0 R3
 Physics 132 Homework #3 8

ü a)

by definition,

V = −‡
f
→ →
E.ds
i
→ ˆ ˆ
in spherical coordinates, d s = dr r̂ + r dθ θ + r sinθ dφ φ
→
since E points only in the direction of r̂
→ → qr
E.ds = dr
4 π ε0 R3
choosing the initial point as r =
0 and the final point as some arbitrary radius r ', we get :

V = −‡ Hr '2 − 02 L
ε0 R3 ‡0
r' r'
qr −q −q 1
dr = r dr =
0 4 π ε 0 R3 4 π 4 π ε0 R3 2
−q
= r '2
8 π ε0 R3

ü b)

The difference in the electric field

between a point on the surface and the sphere ' s center is :
» ∆V = » V Hr ' = RL − V Hr ' = 0L » = À

02 À = À R2 À =
−q −q −q q
R2 −
8 π ε0 R3 8 π ε0 R3 8 π ε0 R3 8 π ε0 R

ü c)

if q >0, the potential is greater inside the sphere than out

V(r'= R) < V(r'<R)
because DV is negative for r' < R
 Physics 132 Homework #3 9

à 10)

ü a)

Eq. 25 − 18 : Vf − Vi = − ‡ E . d s
f
→ →

i
σ
Eq. 24 − 13 : E =
2 ε0
For an infinite sheet, E points perpendicular to the surface,
which in our case is the ẑ − direction.
In three − dimensional, rectangular Cartesian coordinates,
→
d s = dx x̂ + dy ŷ + dz ẑ
→ → σ
Thus, E . d s = dz
2 ε0

So, V HzL − V Hz = 0L = − ‡ Hz − 0L
2 ε0 ‡0
z z
σ σ σ
dz = − dz = −

V Hz = 0L = V0
0 2 ε0 2 ε0

Thus,
V HzL = V0 −
σ
z
2 ε0

ü b)

The amount of work done by moving an object of charge q through a potential is :

W
− = Vf − Vi
q
In our case,
= JV0 − z N − V0
−W σ
q 2 ε0
So,
σq
W = z

i y
2 ε0
j
j z
jNote : the units are correct for work C2 m = N m = Jz z
C
m2 C

k Nm2 {