KENYA METHODIST UNIVERSITY

END OF 3RD TRIMESTER 2019 [FT] EXAMINATION

SCHOOL : SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT : PURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES
UNIT CODE : PHYS 401
UNIT TITLE : ELECTRODYNAMICS
TIME : 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS:
 Answer Question One (compulsory) and any other Two Questions.
 Question one carries 30 marks and the rest are 20 marks each
 Do not write anything on the Question Paper.

● You may use the following information.

dA x dA y dA z 1 d 1 dA φ dA z
divA = + + divA= (rA r )+ +
dx dy dz (Cartesian) r dr r dφ dz (Cylindrical)
1 d 2 1 d 1 dA φ
divA= (r A r )+ ( A sin θ)+
and r 2 dr r sin θ dθ θ r sin θ dφ (Spherical)

Question 1 [One]
a) Write down the equation of Maxwell’s 3rd equation and state the quantity that each symbol
represent. [3 marks]
b) State Gauss law [2 marks]
5 r2 ^ 20
D= 2 r^
D= r
c) In the region r≤2, 4 and for r>2, r in the spherical coordinates. Find the
charge density:-
i). r≤2 [3 marks]

PHYS 401 Page 1 of 4

 ii). r>2 [3 marks]
d) A sphere of diameter 10cm is charged to a potential of 100V. Determine:-
i). The charge on the surface of the sphere [3 marks]
ii). Surface charge density [4
marks]
iii).The outward pull per unit area [3 marks]
e) The vector differential operator in the Cartesian coordinate is given by
d d d
∇= i+ j+ k
dx dy dz and A( x , y , z )=A 1 + A 2 + A3 is a defined and differentiable function
of a vector. Find

i). The divergence of ⃗

A

∇⋅⃗A [2 Marks]

ii). The curl of ⃗

A

∇× ⃗A [3 Marks]
f) Discuss the Coulomb’s law [4 Marks]

Question 2 [Two]
a) State and explain the divergence theorem. [4 Marks]
q
∮ Eds= ε
b) From gauss law 0. Show that for a parallel plate capacitor with a separation

A
C=ε 0
distance d and plate area A, d where C is capacitance. [6
Marks]

c) If
D= ρ0 ^y in the region 0≤y≤1 in the Cartesian coordinate and D= ρ0 y 2 ^y elsewhere.

Find the charge density.

i). In the region 0≤y≤1 [4 Marks]
ii). Outside the region 0≤y≤1 [4 Marks]
d) State stoke’s theorem [2 Marks]

PHYS 401 Page 2 of 4

Question 3 [Three]
Q
D= (1−cos 3 r ) r^
a) Given that πr 2 in the cylindrical co-ordinates. Find the charge density.
[4
Marks]
b) Proof the divergence theorem [6 Marks]

=
q
E=
c) The electric field around a spherical surface is given by 4 πr 2 ε 0 . State what each symbol

represents in the equation. [4 Marks]

⃗ i ( ωt+ βz )
d) In free space magnetic induction B=Bm e
^y . Show that electric field

−ω
E= Bm e i ( ωt+ βz ) x^
β [6 Marks]

Question 4 [Four]
a) For a surface element ds of dimensions rd θ and
r sin θdθ in the spherical polar coordinate,

the electric field ⃗

E at ds directed outwards along the radius vector with magnitude
q
E=
4 πε 0 r 2

[6 Marks]

q
∫ E⃗ d ⃗s = ε
Show that the flux is given by 0

PHYS 401 Page 3 of 4

 i( ωt− βz )
b) In a homogenous region where μr =1 and x^ and B=μ0 H m e
i( ωt−βz )
εr=50, E=20 πe .

ω 1
β= v=
If λ=1.78m, v and √ ε r ε 0 μr μ 0 , find
i). ω [4 Marks]

ii). ∇× ⃗
E [4 Marks]
d B̄
−
iii). dt [3 Marks]
iv). Hm [3 Marks]

PHYS 401 Page 4 of 4