KOÇ UNIVERSITY

Phys 302
Electromagnetism Instr: Umran S. Inan
Deadline:15.03.2022 23.59

HW #3 Solutions

Q1. a) Let us use cylindrical coordinates. The infinitesimal charge dq = ρ0 r′ dr′ dϕ′ . Then the infinitesimal
electric field,
⃗ = dq (⃗r − r⃗′ ) ρ0 r′ dr′ dϕ′ (⃗r − r⃗′ )
dE =
4πϵ0 |⃗r − r⃗′ |2 |⃗r − r⃗′ | 4πϵ0 (r′2 + z 2 ) |⃗r − r⃗′ |
Due to symmetry I can consider only z-component of infinitesimal electric fields.

ρ0 r′ dr′ dϕ′ ⃗
dE = cosθ, ,where θ is the angle between z-axis and dE
4πϵ0 (r′2 + z 2 )
z ρ0 r′ dr′ dϕ′ z
cosθ = √ →
− dE =
r′2 + z 2 4πϵ0 (r′2 + z 2 )3/2
ZR Z2π ZR Z2π
ρ0 r′ dr′ dϕ′ z r′ dr′
 
ρ0 z ρ0 z
E= = dϕ′ = 1− √
4πϵ0 (r′2 + z 2 )3/2 4πϵ0 (r′2 + z 2 )3/2 2ϵ0 R2 + z 2
0 0 0 0

b) When z ≪ R, √ z →
− 0
R2 +z 2
ρ0
E≈
2ϵ0
Q2. a)
ZR2 ZR2  
⃗ ⃗ Q Q Q R1
WR1 →
− R2 = − Edl = − dr = (lnR1 − lnR2 ) = ln
4πϵ0 r 4πϵ0 4πϵ0 R2
R1 R1

b)  
Q R1
W∞→
− R2 = R lim ln
1→− ∞ 4πϵ0 R2
Since the limit diverges an infinite amount of work should be done. Since infinite work is physically meaningless,
this kind of electric field source cannot exist physically.

Q3. a) Infinitesimal charge dq = ρ0 adϕ′ , the location of source r⃗′ = acosϕ′ x̂ + asinϕ′ ŷ and the target location
⃗r = z ẑ

 
Zπ/2 3π/2
aρ0 dϕ′
Z
⃗ =
E  +

(z ẑ − acosϕ′ x̂ − asinϕ′ ŷ)
4πϵ0 (a2 + z 2 )3/2

0 π

aρ0 πz Qz
= ẑ = ẑ
4πϵ0 (a2 + z 2 )3/2 4πϵ0 (a2 + z 2 )3/2

The integrals over cos and sin cancel out.

 b) Infinitesimal charge dq = ρ0 cosϕ′ adϕ′ ,
 
Zπ/2 3π/2
 aρ0 cosϕ′ dϕ′
Z
E⃗ = + (z ẑ − acosϕ′ x̂ − asinϕ′ ŷ)
4πϵ0 (a2 + z 2 )3/2

0 π
 
Zπ/2 3π/2
Z
aρ0 z ′ ′
Ez =  +  cosϕ dϕ = 0
 
4πϵ0 (a2 + z 2 )3/2
0 π
 
Zπ/2 3π/2
−a2 ρ0 −a2 ρ0 −a2 ρ0
Z
2 ′ ′ π
Ex =  +  cos ϕ dϕ = =
 
4πϵ0 (a2 + z 2 )3/2 2
4πϵ0 (a + z )2 3/2 2 8ϵ0 (a2 + z 2 )3/2
0 π
 
2 Zπ/2 3π/2
−a ρ0 −a2 ρ0
Z
′ ′ ′
Ey = +  sinϕ cosϕ dϕ =
 
4πϵ0 (a2 + z 2 )3/2 4πϵ0 (a2 + z 2 )3/2

0 π

Q4. The charge inside the sphere with radius r,

Zr
Qenc (r) = cr′ 4πr′2 dr′ = cπr4 →
− Qtotal = cπR4
0

Then the electric field can be found by Gauss’ Law,

Z
ϵ0 E ⃗ = Qenc
⃗ ds
S

Since the electric field spherically symmetric if we choose a spherical shell as the surface S which the integral is
taken, electric field is constant on this surface.

cπr4 cr2
Z
ϵ0 E ds = Qenc (r) →− E= 2
= , when 0 < r < R
4πr ϵ0 4ϵ0
S

When r > R, the enclosed charge is equal to the total charge again by Gauss’ law,

cR4
Z
ϵ0 E ds = Qtot → − E = 2 , when r ≥ R
4r ϵ0
S

The electric potential can be found by using electric field,

Zr
cR4 cR4
Φ(r) = − 2
dr = when r ≥ R
4r ϵ0 4rϵ0
∞

Zr ZR Zr
cR4 cr2 cR3 3c(R3 − r3 )
Φ(r) = − E(r) = − dr − dr = + when 0 < r < R
4r2 ϵ0 4ϵ0 4ϵ0 4ϵ0
∞ ∞ R
Q5. Since the setting is cylindrically symmetric, we should choose our Gaussian surfaces as cylindrical shells.

For r < a the enclosed charge for the cylindrical shell,

Z r
Qenc = ρa 2πr′ dr′ h = πr2 hρa
0

By Gauss’ law,

πr2 ρa h
Z
rρa
ϵ0 Eds = πr2 hρa →
− E= =
2πrhϵ0 2ϵ0

For a < r < b,

Za Zr
Qenc = ρa 2πr′ dr′ h + ρb 2πr′ dr′ h = ρa πa2 h + ρb π(r2 − a2 )h
0 a

Then electric field is,

ρa a2 + ρb (r2 − a2 )
ϵ0 E2πrh = πh(ρa a2 + ρb (r2 − a2 )) →
− E=
2rϵ0
For r > b,

Za Zb
′ ′
Qenc = ρa 2πr dr h + ρb 2πr′ dr′ h = ρa πa2 h + ρb π(b2 − a2 )h
0 a

ρa a2 + ρb (b2 − a2 )
E=
2rϵ0