• Potential of a surface charge

dR
o Consider uniformly charged
circular disc of radius a, R2
placed with its center at the R
origin and axis along x-axes.
a
o Let we find out the electric R
potential at point P along x-
axes at distant x.
o We mark a circular ring of radius R and thickness dR on the
disc surface centered at O.
o From the preceding section we know that potential due to
the ring at P is 1 𝑑𝑞
𝑑𝑉 =
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑥 2 + 𝑅2 1
o If σ is the surface charge density of the disc then charge on
ring is
𝑑𝑞 = 𝜎𝑑𝑎 = 𝜎 2𝜋𝑅 𝑑𝑅

1 𝜎 2𝜋𝑅 𝑑𝑅 𝜎 2𝑅𝑑𝑅
o Hence, 𝑑𝑉 = =
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑥 2 +𝑅 2 4𝜀𝑜 𝑥 2 +𝑅 2

o The net potential of the disc is

𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
𝜎 2𝑅𝑑𝑅 𝜎 𝑑(𝑥 2 + 𝑅2 ) 𝜎 𝑥2 + 𝑅2
𝑉= න = න =
4𝜀𝑜 2
𝑥 +𝑅 2 4𝜀𝑜 𝑥 2 + 𝑅2 4𝜀𝑜 1ൗ
0 0 2 0

2
 𝝈
Or 𝑽= 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒙 . . . . . . . . . . . (1)
𝟐𝜺𝒐

Which is the expression for the potential of the surface charge.

o Limiting case:
1
2 2 𝑎2
▪ if 𝑥 ≫ 𝑎 then 𝑥 + 𝑎 2 ≈𝑥 1+
2𝑥 2
𝑎2 𝑎2
and 𝑥 2 + 𝑎2 − 𝑥 ≈ 𝑥 1 + −1 =
2𝑥 2 2𝑥
𝜎𝑎2 𝜎𝜋𝑎2 𝑸
So, 𝑽= = =
4𝜀𝑜 𝑥 4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑥 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒐 𝒙

▪ If 𝑥 = 0
𝝈𝒂
i.e. at the surface of the disc, 𝑽 =
𝟐𝜺𝒐 3
Thank you
&
Good luck