Problems in Electrostatics

24th January 2007

1. Which of these Electric fields can be due to static charges. Determine the charge
density that created the valid fields.
2
(a) ~E(~r) = e−y x̂
2
(b) ~E(~r) = e−x x̂
(c) ~E(~r) = sin (kr) r̂ (r, θ, z coordinate system)
(d) ~E(~r) = 2 cos θr̂ + sin θθ̂ r3 (r, θ, φ coordinate system)



2. A conducting box defined by 0 < x < 1, 0 < y < 1 contains charge as specified
below. In each case determine the potential φ(~r).

(a) ρ(x, y) = 2x, grounded walls.

(b) ρ(x, y) = sin (πy), φ = 1 on top wall.

Hint: Remember that any solution of poisson’s equation can be combined with
Laplace’s equation to get the solution.

3. A cylinder has the top half kept at 1V, while the bottom half is grounded:

1 volt 0 < θ < π


V (θ) =
0 volt π < θ < 2π

If the cylinder is infinite along z and has a radius of a, determine the potential
within the cylinder.

Hint: Write out Laplace’s Equation in cylindrical polar coordinates and use sep-
aration of variables.
1 1
∂r (r∂r R) + 2 ∂2θ F = 0
rR r F
r 1
∂r (r∂r R) + ∂2θ F = 0
R F
r 1
∂r (r∂r R) = − ∂2θ F = n2
R F
Hence

r2 R00 + rR0 − n2 R = 0
∂2θ F + n2 F = 0

1
 n must be an integer since F(θ) must be a 2π periodic function. The solu-
tions are therefore
∞   n  r −n 
r r
φ(r, θ) = c0 + d0 ln + ∑ cn + dn (en cos nθ + fn sin nθ)
a n=1 a a

(a) Determine which of the coefficients ck , dk , ek and fk are non-zero for this
problem. Hint: φ must be bounded and well behaved in 0 ≤ r < a.
(b) Obtain the general expression for φ(r, θ) at r = a.
(c) Solve the fourier series problem and determine the coefficients.