PHYS 3023-01 March 20, 2023

First Midterm Examination

Name:

Attempt all Questions:

1. For the two charges 𝑞! and 𝑞" , shown in the figure, calculate the electric field
intensity at point 𝑃 (0,0,4𝑑) for 𝑑 = 50 cm. Determine the electrostatic
potential at the same point. If a third charge having 𝑞# = 10 𝜇C is brought to the
point P, find the total work needed to bring the three charges to their respective
positions.
The permittivity of vacuum 𝜖$ = 8.8542 × 10%!" C " /N ∙ m"

𝑞# = +2𝜇𝐶 𝑞$ = +2𝜇𝐶

(0, −3𝑑, 0) (0, +3𝑑, 0) 𝑦

𝓻𝟏 = −3𝑑 𝐲( + 4𝑑 𝐳(
1
and
𝓻𝟐 = 3𝑑 𝐲( + 4𝑑 𝐳(
1
 ∴ |𝓻𝟏 | = |𝓻𝟐 | = :(3𝑑)# + (4𝑑)# = 5𝑑
1
𝑞 𝒒
𝐄 = 𝐄𝟏 + 𝐄𝟐 = 𝓻 𝟏 + 𝓻
4𝜋𝜖𝟎 |𝓻𝟏 |& 𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 |𝓻𝟐 |𝟑 𝟐
3
𝑞 (−3𝑑 𝐲( + 4𝑑 𝐳() (3𝑑 𝐲( + 4𝑑 𝐳()
𝐄= C + E
4𝜋𝜖( 125𝑑 & 125𝑑 &
2𝑞
𝐄= 𝐳(
125 𝜋𝜖( 𝑑 #
1
2 × 2 × 10)*
𝐄= 𝐳( = 4601.62 𝐳( V/m
125 𝜋𝜖( 0.5#
1
𝑞 𝑞
𝑉 = 𝑉$ + 𝑉# = +
4𝜋𝜖𝟎 |𝓻𝟏 | 4𝜋𝜖( |𝓻𝟐 |
3
𝑞 2 𝑞
𝑉= M N=
4𝜋𝜖( 5𝑑 10 𝜋𝜖( 𝑑
1
2 × 10)*
𝑉= = 14380 V
5 𝜋𝜖(
1
The Work done to bring the three charges together is calculated using
1 𝑞$ 𝑞# 𝑞$ 𝑞& 𝑞# 𝑞&
𝑊= Q + + S
4𝜋𝜖( 𝓇$# 𝓇$& 𝓇#&
2
1 4 × 10)$# 20 × 10)$# 20 × 10)$#
𝑊= T + + U
4𝜋𝜖( 6𝑑 5𝑑 5𝑑
2
10)$# 20 120 120
𝑊= Q + + S
4𝜋𝜖( 30𝑑 30𝑑 30𝑑
13 × 10)$#
𝑊= = 0.156 J
6𝜋𝜖( × 0.5
1
 2. A line charge of length 𝐿 = 10 cm is aligned with the z-axis as shown in the
figure. It carries a negative charge per unit length (𝜆! = −1 𝜇𝐶/m) between 𝑧 =
0 and 𝑧 = +𝐿/2, and a positive charge density (𝜆" = +1 𝜇𝐶/m) between 𝑧 =
−𝐿/2 and 𝑧 = 0 (a) Find the electrostatic field intensity at point P (1 𝑚, 0, 0).
(b) Determine the work done to carry a test charge 𝑄 = +50 𝜇𝐶 along the x-axis
from infinity to P. (c) What is work done to carry the same charge along the path
defined by the line (𝑥 = 1 m, and 𝑦 = 0) from infinity to P. The permittivity of
vacuum 𝜖$ = 8.8542 × 10%!" C " /N ∙ m"

∞ 𝑧
path (𝑐)

+𝐿/2

𝜆! = −1 𝜇𝐶/m
∞ (1 m, 0,0)

path (𝑏) 𝑥 𝑃 𝑦
𝜆" = +1 𝜇𝐶/m

−𝐿/2

(a) The electrostatic field intensity may be calculated using the superposition expression
1 (𝐫 − 𝐫′)
𝐄= W 𝜆(𝐫′) 𝑑𝑙′
4𝜋𝜖( |𝐫 − 𝐫′|&
3
𝟎 𝑳 ⁄𝟐
𝜆 \(0 − 𝑧′)𝐳( + (𝑥 − 0)𝐱(^ -
𝜆 \(0 − 𝑧′)𝐳( + (𝑥 − 0)𝐱(^
𝐄= W 𝑑𝑧 − W 𝑑𝑧′
4𝜋𝜖( )𝑳⁄𝟐 ((0 − 𝑧′)𝟐 + (𝑥 − 0)𝟐 )𝟑⁄𝟐 4𝜋𝜖( 𝟎 ((0 − 𝑧′)𝟐 + (𝑥 − 0)𝟐 )𝟑⁄𝟐

𝟎 (−𝑧 - 𝐳( + 𝑥𝐱() 𝑳⁄𝟐 (−𝑧 -

𝜆 -
𝜆 𝐳( + 𝑥𝐱()
𝐄= W 𝑑𝑧 − W 𝑑𝑧′
4𝜋𝜖( )𝑳⁄𝟐 ((𝑧 - )𝟐 + 𝑥 # )𝟑⁄𝟐 4𝜋𝜖( 𝟎 ((𝑧 - )𝟐 + 𝑥 # )𝟑⁄𝟐
3
The 𝐱( component cancels out and we are left with the integration
 𝟎 𝑳⁄𝟐
𝜆 𝑧 - 𝐳( -
𝜆 𝑧 - 𝐳(
𝐄=− W 𝑑𝑧 + W 𝑑𝑧′
4𝜋𝜖( )𝑳⁄𝟐 ((𝑧 - )𝟐 + 𝑥 # )𝟑⁄𝟐 4𝜋𝜖( 𝟎 ((𝑧 - )𝟐 + 𝑥 # )𝟑⁄𝟐
2

( 𝑳⁄𝟐
𝜆 −1 𝜆 −1
𝐄=− 𝐳( Q Se + 𝐳( Q Se
4𝜋𝜖( ((𝑧 - )𝟐 + 𝑥 # )𝟏⁄𝟐 )𝑳⁄𝟐 4𝜋𝜖( ((𝑧 - )𝟐 + 𝑥 # )𝟏⁄𝟐 𝟎

𝜆 1 1 𝜆 1 1
𝐄=− 𝐳( T− + U+ 𝐳( T− + U
4𝜋𝜖( 𝑥 :𝑥 # + 𝐿# ⁄4 4𝜋𝜖( :𝑥 # + 𝐿# ⁄4 𝑥
𝜆 1 1 𝜆 1
𝐄= T − U 𝐳( = T1 − U 𝐳(
2𝜋𝜖( 𝑥 :𝑥 # + 𝐿# ⁄4 2𝜋𝜖( :1 + 𝐿# ⁄4
3

10)* 1
𝐄= T1 − U 𝐳( = 22.4 𝐳( 𝑉/m
2𝜋(8.8542 × 10 )
)$#
:1 + (0.1)# ⁄4
1
(b) The work done to bring a test charge from infinity to the point P, along the x-axis, is
given by
.
𝑊 = −𝑄 W 𝐄 ∙ 𝑑𝐥
/

2
.
𝜆 1 1
𝑊 = −𝑄 W T − U 𝐳( ∙ 𝐱( 𝑑𝑥 = 0
/ 2𝜋𝜖( 𝑥 :𝑥 # + 𝐿# ⁄4

(c) For an electrostatic field, the work done on the test charge does not depend on the path of
it follows, hence, for the second path shown in figure
𝑊=0
2
3. Consider a spherical cloud of uniform volumetric density 𝜌& = 5 𝜇C/m# , with
a spherical void for which 𝜌& = 0 is centered at (0,0, 𝜁 ). As shown in the
figure, the radius of the charged sphere is 𝑎 = 10 cm, and that of the spherical
void is 𝑏 = 3 cm.

(a) Find expressions for the electrostatic field vector (i) inside the void, (ii)
inside the charge cloud 𝜌& ≠ 0 and (iii) outside it.
(b) If 𝜁 = 5 cm, find the electrostatic field vector at (0,0,3cm), and
(0,20cm, −20cm).

Hint: To find the electric field intensity, use the superposition principle to find
the resultant of the two electric field vectors due to the following two spherical
clouds: (i) The first centered at the origin, with radius 𝑎 = 10 cm and positive
charge density 𝜌& = 5 𝜇C/m# . (ii) The other having radius 𝑏 = 3 cm, centered
at (0,0, 𝜁 ) and carrying negative charge 𝜌& = −5 𝜇C/m# .

(0,0, 𝜁)

𝑏
𝜌0 = 0

𝑦
𝜌0

(a) We are going to use the superposition of the electric fields due to the following two
spheres: (i) The first centered at the origin, with radius 𝑎 and positive charge density
+𝜌0 . (ii) The other having radius 𝑏, centered at (0,0, 𝜁) and carrying negative charge
−𝜌0 .
The electric field vector due to the positive cloud is given by:
 𝜌0 𝑟
𝐄1 3 = 𝐫( for 𝑟 < 𝑎
3𝜖(
𝜌0 𝑎&
𝐄1 4 = 𝐫( for 𝑟 > 𝑎
3𝜖( 𝑟 #
4
The electric field vector due to the negative cloud is given by:
−𝜌0 𝓇
𝐄) 3 = t for 𝓇 < 𝑏
𝓻
3𝜖(
−𝜌0 𝑏 &
𝐄) 4 = t for 𝓇 > 𝑏
𝓻
3𝜖( 𝓇 #
4
• Inside the void, we have
𝜌0 𝑟 𝜌0 𝓇
𝐄 = 𝐄1 3 + 𝐄) 3 = 𝐫( − t
𝓻
3𝜖( 3𝜖(
𝜌0 𝑟 𝜌0
𝐄= 𝐫( − (𝑟𝐫( − 𝜁𝐳()
3𝜖( 3𝜖(
𝜌0
𝐄= 𝜁 𝐳(
3𝜖(
2
• Inside the charge cloud, we have
𝜌0 𝑟 𝜌0 𝑏 &
𝐄 = 𝐄1 3 + 𝐄) 4 = 𝐫( − (𝑟𝐫( − 𝜁𝐳()
3𝜖( 3𝜖( (𝑟 # − 2𝑟𝜁 cos 𝜃 + 𝜁 # )&/#
𝜌0 𝑟 𝑏& 𝜌0 𝜁 𝑏&
𝐄= T1 − # U (
𝐫 + T U 𝐳(
3𝜖( (𝑟 − 2𝑟𝜁 cos 𝜃 + 𝜁 # )&/# 3𝜖( (𝑟 # − 2𝑟𝜁 cos 𝜃 + 𝜁 # )&/#
2
• Outside the charge cloud, we have
𝜌0 𝑎& 𝜌0 𝑏 &
𝐄 = 𝐄1 4 + 𝐄) 4 = 𝐫( − (𝑟𝐫( − 𝜁𝐳()
3𝜖( 𝑟 # 3𝜖( (𝑟 # − 2𝑟𝜁 cos 𝜃 + 𝜁 # )&/#
𝜌0 𝑏 & 𝑎& 𝑟& 𝜌0 𝜁 𝑏&
𝐄= T − U (
𝐫 + T U 𝐳(
3𝜖( 𝑟 # 𝑏 & (𝑟 # − 2𝑟𝜁 cos 𝜃 + 𝜁 # )&/# 3𝜖( (𝑟 # − 2𝑟𝜁 cos 𝜃 + 𝜁 # )&/#
2
(b) The point (0,0,0.03) lies inside the void:
𝜌0 5 × 10)* × 0.05
𝐄(0,0,0.03) = 𝜁 𝐳( = 𝐳(
3𝜖( 3 × 8.8542 × 10)$#

𝐄(0,0,0.03) = 9411.73 𝐳( V/m

2
 • The point (0,0.2, −0.2) lies outside the charge cloud with 𝑟 = 0.2828 m and 𝜃 = 135°

𝜌0 𝑏 & 𝑎& 𝑟& 𝜌0 𝜁 𝑏&

𝐄= T − U 𝐫( + T U 𝐳(
3𝜖( 𝑟 # 𝑏 & (𝑟 # − 2𝑟𝜁 cos 𝜃 + 𝜁 # )&/# 3𝜖( (𝑟 # − 2𝑟𝜁 cos 𝜃 + 𝜁 # )&/#

(𝑟 # − 2𝑟𝜁 cos 𝜃 + 𝜁 # )$/# = ((0.2828)# + 2 × 0.2828 × 0.05 × 0.707+(0.05)# )$/#

(𝑟 # − 2𝑟𝜁 cos 𝜃 + 𝜁 # )$/# = (0.10247)$/# = 0.32

5 × 10)* × (0.03)& 0.1& (0.2828)&

𝐄(0,0.2, −0.2) = T − U 𝐫(
3 × 8.8542 × 10)$# × (0.2828)# 0.03& (0.32)&
5 × 10)* × 0.05 (0.03)&
+ T U 𝐳(
3 × 8.8542 × 10)$# (0.32)&

𝐄(0,0.2, −0.2) = 188234.6 × 3.376 × 10)7 (37.037 − 0.69)𝐫( + 9411.73(8.24 × 10)7 )𝐳(

𝐄(0,0.2, −0.2) = 2309.78 𝐫( + 7.755 𝐳( V/m

𝐄(0,0.2, −0.2) = 1633.507 𝐲( − 1633.507 𝐳( + 7.755 𝐳( V/m

𝐄(0,0.2, −0.2) = 1633.507 𝐲( − 1625.75 𝐳( V/m

2

or
𝜌0 𝑎& 𝜌0 𝑏 &
𝐄= (0.2 (
𝐲 − 0.2 (
𝐳 ) − (0.2 𝐲( − 0.2 𝐳( − 𝜁𝐳()
3𝜖( 𝑟 & 3𝜖( (0.2# + (0.2 − 𝜁)# )&/#

𝜌0 (0.1)& (0.03)&
𝐄= z (0.2 (
𝐲 − 0.2 (
𝐳 ) − (0.2 𝐲( − 0.25 𝐳(){
3𝜖( (0.2828)& (0.32)&

(0.1)& (0.03)&
𝐄 = 188234.6 z (0.2 (
𝐲 − 0.2 (
𝐳 ) − (0.2 𝐲( − 0.25 𝐳(){
(0.2828)& (0.32)&

𝐄(0,0.2, −0.2) = 1633.507 𝐲( − 1625.75 𝐳( V/m

Same result as before.