26.

8 Problems 635

26.8 Problems
26.1. Show that by writing P (u) ≡ Θ(θ)—with u = cos θ—and using the
chain rule, the second equation of (26.2) becomes
 
1 d dP
− (1 − u2 ) + αP = 0.
sin θ dθ du
∞
26.2. Choose a solution of the form ur n=0 an un for the Legendre DE,
assume that a0 and a1 are both nonzero, and show that the only solution for
r is r = 0.
26.3. Derive Equation (26.15).
26.4. Derive Equations (26.18), (26.19), and (26.20).
26.5. Derive Equations (26.21) and (26.22) and show that they can both be
written as (26.23).
26.6. Show by mathematical induction (or otherwise) that Equation (26.24)
satisfies Pn (1) = 1.
26.7. Show that Legendre polynomials and the hypergeometric function are
related via (26.25) and (26.26).
26.8. Suppose that Q represents electric charge. Show that in (26.34) Q0
is the total charge and Q1 is the dot product of êr and the electric dipole
moment.
26.9. (a) Change t to −t and u to −u, and show that the generating function
g(t, u) of Legendre polynomials does not change.
(b) Now substitute −t for t and −u for u in Equation (26.30) and compare the
resulting equation with (26.30) to derive the parity of Legendre polynomials.
26.10. (a) Show that (1/t)[ln(1 + t) − ln(1 − t)] is an even function of t.
(b) Use the Maclaurin expansion of ln(1 ± t) to derive the following series:
∞
 t2k
1
[ln(1 + t) − ln(1 − t)] = 2 .
t 2k + 1
k=0

26.11. (a) Show that Pn (0) = 0 if n is odd.

(b) Show that for u = 0, Equation (26.38) yields
2n − 1
P2n (0) = − P2n−2 (0).
2n
(c) Iterate this relation and obtain
(2n − 1)!! (2n − 1)!!
P2n (0) = (−1)n P0 (0) = (−1)n .
(2n)!! (2n)!!
Now use the result of Problem 11.1 to obtain the final form of (26.39).
636 Laplace’s Equation: Spherical Coordinates
∞
26.12. Suppose f (x) = k=0 ck Pk (x). Show that
# 1 ∞
 2c2m
[f (x)]2 dx = .
−1 m=0
2m + 1

26.13. Show the following two equalities:

d2 P dP
(1 − z 2 ) − 2z + n(n + 1)
dz 2 dz
2
n+1 (ξ 2 − 1)n [nξ 2 − 2(n + 1)ξz + n + 2]
= n dξ
2 (2πi) C (ξ − z)n+3
2  2 
n+1 d (ξ − 1)n+1
= n dξ.
2 (2πi) C dξ (ξ − z)n+2
1
26.14. In the integral −1 (x2 − 1)n dx, let u = (x2 − 1)n and dv = dx and
integrate by parts to show that
# 1 # 1
(x − 1) dx = −2n
2 n
x2 (x2 − 1)n dx.
−1 −1

Integrate by parts a few more times and show that

# 1 #
n(n − 1) . . . (n − m + 1) 1 2m 2
(x2 − 1)n dx = (−2)m x (x − 1)n−m dx.
−1 (2m − 1)!! −1

Set m = n and, using the result of Problem 11.1, obtain the following final
result: # 1
(n!)2
(x2 − 1)n dx = (−1)n 22n+1 .
−1 (2n + 1)!
26.15. Use the procedures of Example 26.5.4 and the previous problem to
show that for m ≥ n:
# 1 0
m
0 if m and n have opposite parities,
x Pn (x) dx = 2(m+n)/2+1 m!( m+n )!
2
−1 (m−n)!(m+n+1)! if m and n have the same parities,

where having the same parity means being both even or both odd.
1
26.16. Show that 0 P2k (x) dx = 0 if k ≥ 1. Hint: Extend the interval of
integration to (−1, 1) and use the orthogonality of Legendre polynomials.
26.17. Find the Legendre expansion for the function f (x) = |x| in the interval
(−1, +1). Hint: Break up the integrals into two pieces, employ the recurrence
relation to express xPn (x) in terms of Pn−1 (x) and Pn+1 (x), and use the
result of Example 26.6.1.
26.18. (a) Find the total charge on the upper and lower hemispheres and on
the entire sphere
 of Example 26.7.3.
(b) Using p = r dq(r ), calculate the (induced) dipole moment of the sphere.
26.8 Problems 637

26.19. Suppose that the sphere of Example 26.7.3 is held at potential V0 .

(a) Find the potential Φ(r, θ) and the electrostatic field at all points in space.
(b) Calculate the surface charge density on the sphere.
(c) Find the total charge on the upper and lower hemispheres and on the
entire sphere.
26.20. Using the infinite series expansion, find the electrostatic potential
both inside and outside a conducting sphere of radius a held at the constant
potential V0 .
26.21. Find the electrostatic potential inside a sphere of radius a with an
insulating small gap at the equator if the bottom hemisphere is grounded and
the top hemisphere is maintained at a constant potential V0 .
26.22. A sphere of radius a is maintained at a temperature T0 . The sphere is
inside a large heat-conducting mass. Find the expressions for the steady-state
temperature distribution both inside and outside the sphere.
26.23. A ring of total charge q and radius a in the xy-plane with its center
at the origin constitutes an azimuthally symmetric charge distribution whose
potential is also azimuthally symmetric.
(a) Write the most general potential function valid for r > a.
(b) By direct integration show that
#

1 dq(r )

q 1
Φ(r, θ = 0) = = √ .
4π0 |r − r |

θ=0 4π0 r2 + a2
(c) Expand this expression in powers of (a/r) and compare the result with
the series in (a) to find the coefficients of Legendre expansion and show that
q  (−1)k (2k)!  a 2k
∞
Φ(r, θ) = P2k (cos θ).
4π0 r 22k (k!)2 r
k=0

(d) Find a similar expression for Φ(r, θ) for r < a.

26.24. A conducting sphere of radius a is inside another conducting sphere
of radius b. The inner sphere is held at potential V1 ; the outer sphere at
V2 . Find the potential inside the inner sphere, between the two spheres, and
outside the outer sphere.
26.25. A conducting sphere of radius a is inside another conducting sphere
of radius b which is composed of two hemispheres with an infinitesimal gap
between them. The inner sphere is held at potential V1 . The upper half of the
outer sphere is at potential +V2 and its lower half at −V2 . Find the potential
inside the inner sphere, between the two spheres, and outside the outer sphere.
26.26. A heat conducting sphere of radius a is composed of two hemispheres
with an infinitesimal gap between them. The upper and lower halves of the
sphere are in contact with heat baths of temperatures +T1 and −T1 , respec-
tively. The sphere is inside a second heat conducting sphere of radius b held
at temperature T2 . Find the temperature inside the inner sphere, between
the two spheres, and outside the outer sphere.