U NIVERSITY OF C ALIFORNIA - S ANTA C RUZ

D EPARTMENT OF P HYSICS
PHYS 110A

Homework #5

Benjamin Stahl

February 10, 2015

1 G RIFFITHS , 4.16 A
~0 , so that the electric displacement is D
It is given that the field inside a large of dielectric is E ~ 0 = ²0 E
~0 + P
~.

(a) A small spherical cavity (as shown in Fig 4.19a of Griffiths) is hollowed out of the material. The field at the
center of the cavity will be found. As given in Equation 4.14 of Griffiths, the field inside a uniformly polarized
~ . Thus the electric field at the center of the cavity will be just be the difference of the field
sphere is − 3²10 P
present in the dielectric and the part that is removed:

1
~ = E~0 +
E ~
P (1.1)
3²0

Now, the displacement at the center of the cavity will be found. The cavity is free of the dielectric, thus ²0
applies: µ ¶
1 1
~ ~ ~
D = ²0 E = ²0 E 0 + ~
P = ²0 E~0 + P~ (1.2)
3²0 3
Re-expressing the given electric displacement and substituting into this result yields:

1 2
~ =D
D ~0 −P
~+ P~ → ~ =D
D ~0− P~ (1.3)
3 3

2 G RIFFITHS , 4.18

It is given that the space between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor is filled with two slabs of linear dielectric
material. Fig. 4.24 of Griffiths gives the pertinent dimensions and quantities for the capacitor, where slab 1 has a
dielectric constant ²r = 2 and slab 2 has a value of 1.5.
(a) The electric displacement will be found in each slab using Gauss’ Law:
I
~ · d~
D a = Q f enc → D A = σA → D = σ down (2.1)

Note that by properly accounting for the signs, this displacement is true for both slabs.

1
 ~ = ²E
(b) Now, the electric field will be found in each slab using D ~ , where ² = ²r ²0 . For slab 1:

~
D σ
~=
E → E= (2.2)
²r ²0 2²0

Now, for slab 2:

~
D 2σ
~=
E → E= (2.3)
1.5²0 3²0

(c) Now the polarization will be found in each slab using Equation 4.30 of Griffiths where χe = ²r − 1. For slab 1:

σ σ
~ = ²0 χe E
P ~ = ²0 (²r − 1)E
~ = ²0 (2 − 1) → ~=
P (2.4)
2²0 2

Now for slab 2:

2σ σ
~ = ²0 (1.5 − 1)
P → ~=
P (2.5)
3²0 3

(d) Next, the potential difference between the plates is found:

σ
µ ¶
2σ 7σa
V = (E 1 + E 2 )a = + a= (2.6)
2²0 3²0 6²0

(e) Now the location and amount of all bound charge will be found. First the bound charge on the top and bottom
of slab 1 is found:
σ σ
σt op = P~1 · n̂ = − & σbot t om = (2.7)
2 2
Now for slab 2:
σ σ
σt op = − & σbot t om = (2.8)
3 3
Note that the total volume bound charge will be zero because the surface bound charges sum to zero.
(f ) Having now determined all of the free and bound charge, the field will be recalculated in each slab. Starting
with slab 1 and utilizing Gauss’ Law:

Q enc σ ³ σ´ σ
I
~ · d~
E a= → EA= σ− → E= (2.9)
²0 2²0 2 2²0

Now for slab 2:

σ³ σ´ 2σ
EA= −σ + → E= (2.10)
²0 3 3²0

Where only the magnitudes of the fields are considered because of the orientation of the fluxes. Note that these
results agree with those in part b.

3 G RIFFITHS , 4.19

It is given that there is enough linear dielectric material (with dielectric constant ²r ), to half-fill a parallel-plate
capacitor as shown in Fig. 4.25 of Griffiths. The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor with no dielectric is given
as:
A²0
C0 = (3.1)
d

2
Now, the potential for scenario 4.25(a) is found:
σ d σ d σd
µ ¶
1
V = Ed = + = 1+ (3.2)
²0 2 ² 2 2²0 ²r
Thus the capacitance of the dielectric in scenario 4.25(a) is:
Q σA 2A²0 2A²0 ²r
C= = ³ ´= ³ ´= (3.3)
V σd 1 1 d (²r + 1)
2²0 1 + ²r d 1 + ²r

Therefore the ratio by which the capacitance increases when the dielectric is distributed as in 4.25(a) is:
2A²0 ²r
C d (²r +1) 2²r
= = (3.4)
C0 A²0 ²r + 1
d

Now, the scenario in 4.25(b) is considered. First the polarization in the dielectric is found:
V
P = ²0 χe E = ²0 χe (3.5)
d
Thus the surface bound charge is:
V
σb = −²0 χe (3.6)
d
Therefore the total surface charge density at the top will be:
²0 V V V V
σt ot = = σ f − ²0 χe → σ f = ²0 (1 + χe ) = ²0 ²r (3.7)
d d d d
Therefore the capacitance will be:
Q A A V V A A²0
µ ¶µ ¶ µ ¶µ ¶
1
C= = σt ot + σ f = ²0 + ²0 ²r = (1 + ²r ) (3.8)
V 2 2 V d d 2V 2d
Thus, the ratio by which the capacitance increases when the dielectric is distributed as in 4.25(b) is:
A²0
C 2d (1 + ²r ) 1 + ²r
= A²0
= (3.9)
C0 2
d

The following general relationships will be used extensively:

C ~0
E
= & ~ = ²E
D ~ & ~ = ²0 χe E
P ~1 & ~ · n̂
σb = P & σ f as above (3.10)
C0 ~
E
Now going back to the first scenario, 4.25(a), the following quantities can be defined for the regions with air:

2²r V 2²r ²0 V 2² V
~=
E x̂ & ~=
D x̂ & ~=0
P & σb = 0 & σf = (3.11)
²r + 1 d ²r + 1 d ²r + 1 d

Now for the same scenario but within the dielectric:

2 V 2²r ²0 V 2(²r − 1) ²0 V 2(²r − 1) ²0 V

~=
E x̂ & ~=
D x̂ & ~=
P x̂ & σb = −
²r + 1 d ²r + 1 d ²r + 1 d ²r + 1 d (3.12)
σ f = N/A

Now considering the scenario of 4.25(b), the quantities can be defined for the air:

V ²0 V ²0 V
~=
E x̂ & ~=
D x̂ & ~=0
P & σb = 0 & σf = (3.13)
d d d
1 if in a dielectric, otherwise 0

3
Now for the same scenario but within the dielectric:

V ²V ²0 V ²0 V
~=
E x̂ & ~=
D x̂ & ~ = (²r − 1)
P x̂ & σb = −(²r − 1)
d d d d
(3.14)
²V
σf =
d

4 G RIFFITHS , 4.20

It is given that a sphere of linear dielectric material has embedded in it a uniform free charge density, ρ. The
potential at the center of the sphere (relative to infinity) will be found if its radius is R and the dielectric constant
is ²r . First the displacement and subsequently the electric field are found for the region within the sphere using
Gauss’ Law:
4 ρr ρr
I
~ · d~
D a = Q f enc → D · 4πr 2 = πr 3 ρ → ~=
D rˆ → ~=
E rˆ (4.1)
3 3 3²
Now the displacement (and electric field) outside the sphere will be found:

4 ρR 3 ρR 3
D · 4πr 2 = πR 3 ρ → ~=
D rˆ → ~=
D rˆ (4.2)
3 3r 2 3²0 r 2
Now the potential can be found:
à · ¯ !
1 R 1 2 ¯¯0
· 3Z R
ρR ρ 0 ρ ρ
¸ ¸ µ ¶
1 1 2
Z Z
V =− ~ ~
E · d` = − dr + rdr = − 3
R − + r =− 2
−R − R (4.3)
3²0 ∞ r 2 3² R 3²0 r ∞ 2²0 ¯R 3²0 2²0

Where the identity that ² = ²r ²0 has be utilized. Now re-organizing leads to the final result:

ρR 2
µ ¶
1
V= 1+ (4.4)
3²0 2²0

5 G RIFFITHS , 4.21

It is given that a certain coaxial cable consists of a copper wire, radius a, surrounded by a concentric copper tube of
inner radius c (Fig. 4.26 of Griffiths). The space between is partially filled (from b out to c) with material of dielectric
constant ²r , as shown. The capacitance per unit length of this cable will be found. Letting Q be the charge on a
length, `, of the inner most cable, Gauss’ Law will be used to find the displacement and thus the electric field a
distance s from the center. First, this is done for the region a < s < b:
Q Q
I
D~ · d~
a = Q f enc → D · 2πs` = Q → ~=
D ŝ → ~=
E ŝ (5.1)
2πs` 2π²0 s`
Now for the region b < s < c:
Q Q Q
~=
D ŝ → ~=
E ŝ = ŝ (5.2)
2πs` 2π²s` 2π²r ²0 s`
Now the potential is found:

Q
·Z b 1 1
Z c 1
¸
Q b
· µ ¶
1 ³c ´
¸
V= ds + ds = ln + ln (5.3)
2π²0 ` a s ²r b s 2π²0 ` a ²r b
Now the capacitance per unit length can be calculated as follows:

C Q Q C 2π²0
= = → = ³ ´ (5.4)
` V` ` ln b + 1 ln ¡ c ¢
h ³ ´ ¡ ¢i
Q
2π²0 ` ln a + ²1r ln bc `
b
a ²r b

4
6 G RIFFITHS , 4.33
~ = k~
It is given that a dielectric cube of side a, centered at the origin, carries a "frozen-n" polarization P r , where k is
a constant. All of the bound charges will be found and it will then be verified that they sum to zero. First the bound
charge density is found:
~ = −∇ · k(x x̂ + y ŷ + z ẑ) = −3k
ρ b = −∇ · P (6.1)
Thus the total charge bound in the volume will be:

Q vol
ρb = = −3k → Q vol = −3ka 3 (6.2)
a3
Now, the bound surface charge density is found:

~ · n̂
σb = P (6.3)
ka
By symmetry, each of the 6 faces will have a surface charge density of 2 . Thus the total bound surface charge is:

ka 2
Q sur f = 6 · ·a → Q sur f = 3ka 3 (6.4)
2
Summing the bound volume and surface charges gives zero as expected:

Q vol +Q sur f = −3ka 3 + 3ka 3 = 0 (6.5)

7 G RIFFITHS , 5.2

As given in Example 5.2 of Griffiths, the general solution for cycloid motion is:

E
y(t ) = C 1 cos(ωt ) +C 2 sin(ωt ) + t +C 3 & z(t ) = C 2 cos(ωt ) −C 1 sin(ωt ) +C 4 (7.1)
B
Differentiating each of these equations gives the velocities:

E
ẏ(t ) = −C 1 ω sin(ωt ) +C 2 ω cos(ωt ) + & ż(t ) = −C 2 ω sin(ωt ) −C 1 ω cos(ωt ) (7.2)
B
Now the trajectory will be found and plotted for a particle starting at the origin with the following specified initial
velocities.
E
(a) v(0) = B ŷ. First requiring that the particle is at the origin at t = 0 yields:

y(0) = C 1 +C 3 = 0 & z(0) = C 2 +C 4 = 0 (7.3)

Now requiring that the specified initial velocity condition is met yields additional relations for the coefficients:

E E
ẏ(0) = C 2 ω + = → C2 = 0 & ż(0) = −C 1 ω = 0 → C1 = 0 (7.4)
B B
Thus the remaining coefficients can now be determined from the previously found relationships:

C1 = C2 = C3 = C4 = 0 (7.5)

Therefore, the trajectory will be given by:

E
y(t ) = t & z(t ) = 0 (7.6)
B

As required the trajectory is also plotted:

5
 0

z(t)
y(t)

E
(b) v(0) = 2B ŷ. Requiring that the specified initial velocity condition is met yields additional relations for the
coefficients:
E E E
ẏ(0) = C 2 ω + = → C2 = − & ż(0) = −C 1 ω = 0 → C1 = 0 (7.7)
B 2B 2ωB
Thus the remaining coefficients can now be determined from the previously found relationships:
E E
C1 = C3 = 0 & C2 = − & C4 = (7.8)
2ωB 2ωB
Therefore, the trajectory will be given by:

E E E E
y(t ) = − sin(ωt ) + t & z(t ) = − cos(ωt ) + (7.9)
2ωB B 2ωB 2ωB

As required the trajectory is also plotted:

E
z(t)

2ωB

y(t)

(c) v(0) = BE ( ŷ + ẑ). Requiring that the specified initial velocity condition is met yields additional relations for the
coefficients:
E E E E
ẏ(0) = C 2 ω + = → C2 = 0 & ż(0) = −C 1 ω = → C1 = − (7.10)
B B B ωB
Thus the remaining coefficients can now be determined from the previously found relationships:
E E
C1 = − & C3 = & C2 = C4 = 0 (7.11)
ωB ωB

6
 Therefore, the trajectory will be given by:

E E E E
y(t ) = − cos(ωt ) + t + & z(t ) = sin(ωt ) (7.12)
ωB B ωB ωB

As required the trajectory is also plotted:

E
ωB

z(t)

E
−ωB
y(t)

8 G RIFFITHS , 5.3

It is given that in 1897, J. J. Thomson “discovered” the electron by measuring the charge-to-mass ratio of “cathode
rays” (actually, streams of electrons, with charge q and mass m).
(a) First he passed the beam through uniform crossed electric and magnetic fields E and B (mutually perpendic-
ular, and both of them perpendicular to the beam), and adjusted the electric field until he got zero deflection.
The speed required to accomplish this will be calculated. As given in Equation 5.2 of Griffiths, the net force on
a charge, Q, in the presence of both an electric and magnetic field is given by:

~ =Q E ~ + (~ ~)
£ ¤
F v ×B (8.1)

Requiring that this net force be zero so that no deflection occurs allows for the speed to be determined. Note
that the orthogonality of the pertinent vectors allows for the above to become:

E E
E + vB = 0 → v =− → v= (8.2)
B B

Where the sign is added or removed depending upon the choice of coordinate system. The importance is that
the electric and magnetic fields are equal in magnitude.
(b) Then he turned off the electric field, and measured the radius of curvature, R, of the beam, as deflected by the
~ = 0 and then equating
magnetic field alone. The charge to mass ratio of these particles will be found. Putting E
the force equation to a centripetal force allows for the desired result to be found:

mv 2 mv 2 Q v
~ = Q(~
F ~) =
v ×B → QvB = → = (8.3)
R R m BR
Substituting the previously found velocity into this yields the desired result:

Q E
= (8.4)
m B 2R