IPSA: Interactive Problem-Solving Access -6

PHY 103 Practice Problem Set –6 IITK /ynm April 22, 2021

1. Suppose you have just enough dielectric material of dielectric constant 𝜀𝑟 , to ‘half-fill’ a
parallel-plate capacitor as shown in the Figure. By what fraction is the capacitance increased
when you distribute the same amount of material uniformly throughout the capacitor. For a
⃗ , 𝐸⃗ , 𝑃⃗ , free and bound charges in all
given potential difference V between the plates, find 𝐷
regions of both cases.

Figure 1.(b)
Figure 1.(a)

2. The two halves of a long circular cylindrical shell (inner radius a, and outer radius b) is
made of two different materials of relative dielectric constant k1 and k2 as shown in the
figure of the cross-section. At the center of the cylinder a line charge +𝜆 runs all along the
axis.

a) Find 𝐷⃗ , 𝐸⃗ , 𝑃⃗ and all bound charges for all 0< s <b, where s is the radial distance in
cylindrical
𝑦̂
b) Each of your answers must be put inside a box, clearly specifying the region for which it is
valid.

k1 k2

𝑥̂

λ
3. A slab of susceptibility 𝜒1 fills the space above i.e. z<0 and slab of susceptibility 𝜒2 for all space
above i.e. z>0. A point charge q is placed a distance d on the z-axis above the lower half. Find
the potential everywhere.
IPSA: Interactive Problem-Solving Access -6

4. A point charge q is placed at the boundary of two large dielectric slabs i.e. all region x>0 with
⃗ , 𝐸⃗ , 𝑃⃗ everywhere.
dielectric constant k1 and all region x<0 with dielectric constant k2. Find 𝐷

5. A homogeneous slab of linear dielectric has 𝜒𝑒 =0.12, and carries a uniform D=1.6x10-9 C/m2.

a) Find 𝐸⃗ , 𝑃⃗, and the average dipole moment if there are 1019 dipoles/m3, and
b) The voltage between two equipotential surfaces 1 cm apart.

6. Case Study 6.1: Design of a Spherical Capacitor

We initially want to design a spherical vacuum capacitor with a given radius a for the outer
sphere, which will be able to store the largest amount of electrical energy subject to the
constraint that the electric field strength at the surface of the inner may not exceed E0.
a) What radius b should be chosen for the inner spherical conductor, and how much energy
can be stored?
b) How does the design problem change if we are willing to include a dielectric in between
the spheres?

7. Case Study 6.2 Low-k and High -k dielectric materials in Integrated Circuits
There has been a huge effort to replace use of conventional silicon dioxide by other materials
wherever dielectric is needed.
a) In the device fabrication process for Integrated circuits, why would you think in some
‘high’ dielectric constant materials would be required? Find out what materials other than
silicon dioxide are now popular and why?
b) In the same integrated circuits, there are regions where ‘low’ dielectric constants are
required. What purpose would they serve? What kind of materials do you think would
have low dielectric constant?

[Note: Case studies are important for this course even from examination point of view. They are
simple problems but have to be understood in terms of the context in which the problem is posed.]

-------------------------------------------6_PP_PHY103_2021_II------22 APR-----------------------------------------------------ynm