ELECTROSTATIC

BOUNDARY VALUE
PROBLEMS

1
 Introduction
• We shall consider practical electrostatic problems where
only electrostatic conditions (charge and potential) at
some boundaries are known and it is desired to find E
and V throughout the region

• Problems are usually tackled using Poisson's or

Laplace's equation or the method of images are usually
referred to as boundary value problems.

2
POISSON'S AND LAPLACE'S
EQUATIONS

3
4
 UNIQUENESS THEOREM
Uniqueness theorem = any solution of Laplace's equation
which satisfies the same boundary conditions must be the
only solution regardless of the method

5
• Suppose there were two solutions to Laplace equation. Both of
which assume the specified value on the surface

• We want to prove they must be equal. The trick is look on their

difference

• Hence, Vd = 0 or V1 = V2 everywhere, showing that V1 and V2 cannot

be different solutions of the same problem .
6
GENERAL PROCEDURE

7
Example1

8
9
10
Example2

11
12
RESISTANCE AND
CAPACITANCE

13
 RESISTANCE
• Resistance of a conductor of nonuniform cross section.

• The problem of finding the resistance of a conductor of non-

uniform cross section can be treated as a boundary-value
problem. The resistance R (or conductance G = l/R) of a
given conducting material can be found by following these
steps:

14
CAPACITANCE

15
16
Using Gauss's law (assuming Q and determining V in
terms of Q). These are the steps

17
 A. Parallel Plate Capacitor
Suppose that each of the parallel-plate capacitor has an area S
and they are separated by a distance d.

18
19
• Offers a means of measuring the dielectric
constant, ε of a given dielectric.

• the energy stored in a capacitor is given

by

20
 B. COAXIAL CAPACITOR
Consider length L of two coaxial conductors of inner radius a and outer
radius b (b > a) filled with a homogeneous dielectric with permittivity ɛ.
We assume that conductors 1 and 2, respectively, carry +Q and -Q
uniformly distributed on them.

21
applying Gauss's law to an arbitrary Gaussian cylindrical surface of
radius p (a < p < b)

22
 C. Spherical Capacitor
Two concentric spherical conductors with inner sphere of
radius a and outer sphere of radius b (b>a) separated by a
dielectric medium with permittivity ɛ

23
By applying Gauss's law to an arbitrary Gaussian spherical
surface of radius r (a < r < b)

24
Stray Capacitance

• Stray capacitance is unintended and unwanted

capacitance in a circuit.
• It can result in a disruption of normal current flow
within a circuit and impede low-frequency signals
from passing through

25
 Parallel Plate Capacitor
Suppose that each of the parallel-plate capacitor has an area S
and they are separated by a distance d.
SOLVE USING LAPLACE’S EQUATION

26
27
28
Example1

29
30
31
32
33
Example2

34