PHY209 Electromagnetism

Quiz 2
Time & Date: 6:00 PM - 6:50 PM, September 9, 2019

Name: Set A Roll Number:

Instructions
1. Only HANDWRITTEN notes allowed.
2. For the problems 1 to 6, you may write only the FINAL answer. No partial marks awarded.
3. Please write your name and roll number on the answer sheet.
4. Answers written in the page margins will not be awarded marks.

Problem 1 (1 mark)
Let r be a vector directed from the origin to a point P with magnitude r equal to the distance from the
origin to P . Find ∇(rn ).
Answer
∂rn ∂rn ∂rn
∇(rn ) = x̂ + ŷ + ẑ (1)
∂x ∂y ∂z
 
n−1 ∂r ∂r ∂r
= nr x̂ + ŷ + ẑ (2)
∂x ∂y ∂z
= nrn−1 ∇(r) (3)

Hence, ∇(rn ) = nrn−1 r̂ (refer to Problem 5(a) in Assignment 4).

Problem 2 (1 mark)
A force is described by
y x
F (x, y) = − x̂ + 2 ŷ (4)
x2 + y 2 x + y2
Express F in cylindrical coordinates.
Answer x = ρ cos φ and y = ρ sin φ.

x̂ = cos φρ̂ − sin φφ̂ (5)

ŷ = sin φρ̂ + cos φφ̂ (6)

ρ sin φ ρ cos φ
F (ρ, φ) = − x̂ + ŷ (7)
(ρ cos φ)2 + (ρ sin φ)2 (ρ sin φ)2 + (ρ cos φ)2
1
= [− sin φ(cos φρ̂ − sin φφ̂) + cos φ(sin φρ̂ + cos φφ̂)] (8)
ρ
1
= φ̂ (9)
ρ

Problem 3 (1 mark)
Find the work done moving clockwise from 0 to −π on a unit circle in the xy-plane, against a force field
given by
y x
F (x, y) = − 2 x̂ + 2 ŷ (10)
x + y2 x + y2
Answer
Z (1,−π) Z (1,−π) Z −π
1
W =− F (ρ, φ) · (dρρ̂ + ρdφφ̂) = − φ̂ · (dρρ̂ + ρdφφ̂) = − dφ = π (11)
(1,0) (1,0) ρ 0
Problem 4 (1 mark)
A semi-infinite thin rod with uniform linear charge density λ lies along the negative x axis, from x = 0
to x = −∞. Find the electric field at the point (d, 0, 0) on the positive x-axis.
Answer
Z −∞
λdx λ
E= 2
x̂ = x̂ (12)
0 4π 0 (x + d) 4π0d

Problem 5 (1 mark)
A pure dipole p is a distance r from a point charge q, and oriented so that p makes an angle θ with the
vector r from q to p. What is the magnitude of the force acting on q?
Answer Let the pure dipole p be located at (0, 0, 0) and point along the z-axis. Let the charge q be
located at (−x, −y, −z) with the vector r being xx̂+y ŷ +z ẑ. The coordinates of the charge are r, (π −θ).
qp
F = qEdip = (−2 cos θr̂ + sin θθ̂) (13)
4π0 r3

Problem 6 (1 mark)
Two rings with radius r have charge Q and −Q uniformly distributed around them. The rings are parallel,
have a common axis and located a distance h apart. The lower ring has a charge Q. Let z be the vertical
coordinate, with z = 0 taken to be at the center of the lower ring. What is the electric field at a point
z = h2 on the axis of the ring?
Answer Refer to Problem 3 in Assignment 3.
h
2Q 2
E= ẑ (14)
4π0 (r2 + ( h2 )2 ) 32

Problem 7 (4 marks)
0
Consider a half-infinite solid cylinder with radius R and uniform volume charge density ρ . What is the
electric field at the midpoint of the end face? Solve the problem by working in cylindrical coordinates
only and outline all the main steps.
Answer Let the cylinder be located along +ve z-axis with the center P of the end face at (0, 0, 0) with
0 0
rP = 0 and let the position vector of each point of the cylinder be r . Let volume charge density be ρ .
0
r = ρρ̂ + z ẑ (15)
0
dτ = (dρ)(ρdφ)(dz) = ρdρdzdφ (16)
0
r = rP − r = −ρρ̂ − z ẑ = −ρ cos φx̂ − ρ sin φŷ − z ẑ (17)
p
r = ρ2 + z 2 (18)
r ρ cos φx̂ + ρ sin φŷ + z ẑ
r̂ = = − p (19)
r ρ2 + z 2
Z R Z ∞ Z 2π 0
1 ρ ρdρdzdφ ρ cos φx̂ + ρ sin φŷ + z ẑ
E=− (20)
ρ2 + z 2
p
4π0 0 0 0 ρ2 + z 2
" Z Z Z #
R ∞ 2π 0 2 Z R Z ∞ Z 2π 0 2 Z R Z ∞ Z 2π 0
1 ρ ρ dρdz cos φdφ ρ ρ dρdz sin φdφ ρ ρdρzdzdφ
=− x̂ 3 + ŷ 3 + ẑ 3
4π0 0 0 0 (ρ2 + z 2 ) 2 0 0 0 (ρ2 + z 2 ) 2 0 0 0 (ρ2 + z 2 ) 2
(21)
0 Z RZ ∞
ρ ρdρzdz
=− ẑ (22)
20 0 0 (ρ2 + z 2 ) 32
Refer to the lecture notes for solving the integral over z.
0 Z R 0
ρ ρR
E=− ẑ dρ = − ẑ (23)
20 0 20