Electromagnetism (I)

Instructor: Jhih-Sheng Wu
Topics: Topics: Currents, Magnetic Forces, Biot-Savart Law

Problem 1 Surface Current Densities, Magnetic Forces, Torques

A disk of radius R and the surface charge density σ0 at z = 0 is rotating clockwise with the angular
frequency ω around the z-axis. Set its center to be the origin.

(a) What is the surface current density K(r)?

(b) A constant magnetic field B0 x̂ is applied. What is the total magnetic force on the disk?

(c) A constant magnetic field B0 x̂ is applied. What is the total torque on the disk?

Problem 2 Volume Current Densities, Magnetic Forces

A sphere of radius R and the volume charge density ρ0 is rotating clockwise with the angular
frequency ω around the z-axis. Set its center to be the origin.

(a) What is the volume current density J(r)?

(b) Show that in a constant magnetic field B0 x̂, the total magnetic force on the disk is zero.

(c) Find the total magnetic force on the sphere in a non-uniform magnetic field B(r) = − B2l0 s ŝ +
 
B0 1 + zl ẑ. (In this case, the magnetic force is nonzero. This mechanism was used to discover
electron spins in the Stern-Gerlach experiment http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/
hbase/spin.html#c5).

Problem 3 Motions of a Charge, Magnetic Forces

A charge q of the mass m has an initial velocity v(t = 0) = (vx , vy , vz ) and an initial position r(t =
0) = (0, 0, 0).

(a) In the presence of a magnetic field B = Bẑ, what is the trajectory of the charge?

(b) In the presence of a magnetic field B = Bx̂ and a electric field E = E ŷ, what is the trajectory of
the charge?

Write your answer in terms of vx , vy , vz , m, q, E, and B. You can use the results from the textbook
or the lectures.

Problem 4 Continuity Equations, Gauss’s Law

The current density J(t, r) varies as a function of position and time given by

J(t, r) = exp (−κr) exp(−γt)r̂.

If the initial system is charge neutral all the space, i.e., ρ(t = 0, r) = 0, find the charge density at an
arbitrary time t > 0 and an arbitrary position r.

Problem 5 Biot-Savart Law

An infinite long V-shaped wire carrying a current I is bent as shown in Figure 1. Calculate the
magnetic field at Point P .
1
 Figure 1: An infinite long V-shaped wire.

Problem 6 Biot-Savart Law

Do Griffiths Problem 5.11. But, instead of a circular cross-section, consider a squared cross-section
with the side length a.

Problem 7 Ampère’s Law

Find the magnetic field everywhere in the following cases,

(a) An infinite long cylinder of radius R and charge density ρ0 is spinning around its axis (z-axis)
with the angular frequency ω.

(b) An infinite long cylinder of radius R and charge density ρ0 is moving with the velocity v = v ẑ.

More Problems Griffiths Problem 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.10, 5.12, 5.13, 5.14, 5.18