Unit-II

(Electrostatic fields, Coulombs law

and Field intensity)
Coulomb's law states that the force F' between two point charges Q1, and
Q2 is:

1. Along the line joining them

2. Directly proportional to the product QtQ2 of the charges
3. Inversely proportional to the square of the distance R between them

: Permittivity of free space

Figure: Coulomb Vector forces between Q1 and Q2
 Principle of Superposition
In a system with multiple N point charge particles, the net force on one
particle due to other charges (two or more) is the vector sum of each
force due to each individual charge, and each individual contribution is
unaffected by the presence of the other charge
 Electric Field Intensity
• Force per unit charge

Unit for E: Newton/Coulomb or Volt/Meter

• Electric field intensity at point r due to a point charge located at r’ is readily
obtained
E For Two Point Charges
• Electric field intensity at point r due to N point charge located at r1,
r2, r3,…. rN is readily obtained
Example:

Solution:
Electric fields Due to Continuous Charges
Distribution
In general for infinite sheet of charge
For parallel plate capacitor
Problem:
Problem:

Solution:
Problem:

Solution:
Problem:
Electric Potential
 Electric Potential
Coulomb's law, the force on Q is F = QE so that the
work done in displacing the charge by dl is
dW = - F • dl = -QE • dl
Dividing W by gives the potential energy per unit
charge. This quantity, denoted by VAB, is known as the
potential difference between points A and B.
Problem:
Problem:
Electric Flux Line
Electric Fields In
Material Space
Energy band structure in different types of materials at
00 K
 Convection and Conduction Currents

•  Current: The current through a given area is the electric

charge passing the area per unit time.

• Current density: If current flows through a planner

surface .

If normal to surface:
If not normal to surface:
Polarization in Dielectrics
 Electrostatic Boundary Value Problems

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 LAPLACE’S AND POISSON’S EQUATIONS

- In realistic electrostatic problems, one seldom knows the charge

distribution – thus all the solution methods introduced up to this
point have a limited use.

- These solution methods will not require the knowledge of the

distribution of charge.

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 LAPLACE’S AND POISSON’S EQUATIONS
To derive Laplace’s and Poisson’s equations , we start with Gauss’s law
in point form :

  D    E   v (1)

Use gradient concept : E  V (2)

      V     v
v (3)
  V  

Operator :     2 (4)

v
Hence :  V 
2
V / m2 (5) => Poisson’s equation

is called Poisson’s equation applies to a homogeneous media.
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When the free charge density v  0

 2V  0 V / m 2 (6) => Laplace’s equation

In rectangular coordinate :

 2
V  2
V  2
V
V 2  2  2
2

x y z

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Ex.: Two infinite conductors form a wedge located at
  0 and    / 6 is as shown in the figure below. If this region is
characterized by charged free. Find V and .EAssume V = 0 V at  0
and V  100 V at    / 6 .
z

 = /6
x  = 0 V = 100V

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Solution : V = f (  ) in cylindrical coordinate :

1 d 2
V Boundary condition :
V  2
2
0
r d 2
V0 0B
d 2V V/6 100
A(/6)
 0
d 2

/
A600
dV
 A Hence :
d
600
V  A  B V 

1dVˆ for region :
E
V 
r d 0   /6
600 ˆ
 
r
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 Resistance and Capacitance

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 Method of Images

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 Two conditions for image methods
In applying the image method, two conditions must always be
satisfied:

1. The image charge(s) must be located in the conducting region.

2. The image charge(s) must be located such that on the
conducting surface(s) the potential is zero or constant.

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 Applications
• A Point Charge Above a Grounded Conducting Plane
• A Line Charge above a Grounded Conducting Plane

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 A Point Charge Above a Grounded Conducting Plane

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SOLUTION OF LAPLACE’S EQUATION IN ONE VARIABLE
Ex. : Two infinite and parallel conducting planes are separated d meter, with
one of the conductor in the z = 0 plane at V = 0 Volt and the other in the z = d
plane at V = V0 Volt. Assume and  vbetween
0  conductors.
the 2 0

Ebetween the conductors ;

Find : (a) V in the range 0 < z < d ; (b)
(c) D between the conductors ; (d) Dn on the conductors ; (e)  sthe
on
conductors ; (f) capacitance per square meter.

Solution :
(a) Since  v  0 and the problem is in rectangular form, thus

 2
V  2
V  2
V
 V 
2
  0 (1)
x 2
y 2
z 2

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We note that V will  2
V
be a function of z
 2V   0 (2)
z 2
only V = V(z) ;
thus : d 2V d2  V 
2
    0 (3)
dz dz  dz 

Integrating twice : dV
A (4)
dz
V  Az  B (5)

where A and B are constants and

must be evaluated using given
V z 0
B0 (6)
potential values at the boundaries :
V z d
 Ad  V0
 A  V0 / d (7)

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Substitute (6) and (7) into general equation (5) :

V0
V  z (V ) 0 zd
d

(b)  V V V 
E   V    x
ˆ y
ˆ  zˆ 
 x y z 
V V
  zˆ   zˆ 0 (V / m )
z d

(c)
2 0V 0
D  E   zˆ (C / m 2 )
d
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(d) Surface charge : (e) Capacitance :

20V0 C  Q / Vab
s z0
 D n
ˆ  zˆ  zˆ
d  s ds
20V0 
 V0
d
20V0 
s zd
 D n
ˆ  zˆ  (zˆ) 
C/m 2 s

d V0
20V0 0V
 (C / m2 ) 2 0/d 
d   (F 2
/m)
V0 d

z=d V = V0 V

z=0 V=0V

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Ex. : Two infinite length, concentric and conducting cylinders of radii a and
b are located on the z axis. If the region between cylinders are charged
free and , V = V0 (V)
 3at0 a, V = 0 (V) at b and b > a. Find the
capacitance per meter length.

Solution : Use Laplace’s equation in cylindrical coordinate :

and V = f(r) only :

1   V  1  2
V  2
V
V
2
r  2  2 0
r r  r  r  2
z

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 and V = f(r) only :

1   V 
V 
2
r 0
r r  r 
  V 
r 0
r  r 
 V 
r  A
 r 
V A

r r
V  A ln r  B (1)

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Boundary condition :
V  A ln r  B (1)
V
r a
0
V Aln
aB
V
r b
0Aln
bB

Solving for A and B :

V 
V lnb

A 0

;B 0

a
ln/
b a
ln/b
Substitute A and B in (1) :
V 0 ln  b / r 
V  ; arb
ln  b / a 

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 V V0 V 0 ln  b / r 
E   V   rˆ  rˆ V 
r r ln  b / a  ln  b / a 
V0
D  E  rˆ
r ln  b / a 

Surface charge densities: Line charge densities :

V0 2V0
 s r a  D  rˆ    r a   s r a  2a  
a ln b / a  ln b / a 
V0 2V0
 s r b  D  rˆ    r b   s r b  2b   
b ln b / a  ln b / a 

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Capacitance per unit length:

Q   d
C 
Vab Vo

 2
C/m  (F / m)
V0 ln b / a

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 Ex. : Two infinite concentric conducting cone located at
   / 10 and    / 6 . The potential V = 0 V at    / 10
and V = 50 V at    / 6 . Find V and Ebetween the two
conductors.
Solution : V = f (  ) in spherical coordinate :
1 d  dV  z
V  2
2
sin   0
r sin  d  d 
d  dV 
 sin   0
d  d 
dV  = /10
sin  A
d
 = /6
dV A
 V = 50 V
d sin  y
V  A ln  tan  / 2   B x
d
Using :   ln tan  / 2 
sin 
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Boundary condition : V  A ln tan  / 2  B
V   / 10  0  A ln tan / 20  B
V   / 6  50  A ln tan / 12  B
Solving for A and B :


A
50
;
B 

50
ln
tan
/
20


ln

tan
/ 
12

 
tan

ln
/ 
12

 
tan
/20
  
tan
/20


Hence at region :  /10     / 6

50 tan  / 2
V  ln 1 dV ˆ
 tan  / 12  tan  / 20 and E  V  
ln   r d
 tan  / 20 
95.1 ˆ
 tan  / 2   
 95 .1 ln   r sin
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 0 .1584 
 SOLUTION FOR POISSON’S EQUATION
When the free charge density v  0
Ex. : Two infinite and parallel conducting planes are separated d meter, with
one of the conductor in the x = 0 plane at V = 0 Volt and the other in the x = d
plane at V = V0 Volt. Assume and  vbetween
0  conductors.
the 4 0

Find : (a) V in the range 0 < x < d ; (b) Ebetween the conductors

Solution : v
V = f(x) :  2V  

d 2V 0
 
dx 2 
dV 
 0 x A
dx 
0 x2
V   Ax  B
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Boundary condition :
0 x2
V 0B V   Ax  B
x 0  2
0 d 2
V x  d V 0   Ad
 2
V0  0 d
A 
d  2

In region : 0  x  d

0 x V0 dV
V  d  x  x ; E  xˆ
 2 d dx
V0  0  d 
      x  xˆ
d  2 
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Ex. : Repeat Ex. Aboveexaple with  v  0 and  r  1  x

Solution :
  D   v

  E  0
d
1  x  0 E  0
dx
d
1  x    V   0
dx
 dV 
1  x     A
 dx 
 dV  A
   
 dx  1  x
V   A ln( 1  x )  B
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 Boundary condition :

V x 0
0B
V x d
 V0   A ln(1  d )
V0
 A
ln(1  d )

In region : 0  x  d
V   A ln( 1  x )  B

ln(1  x )
V  V0
ln(1  d )
dV V0
E  xˆ   xˆ
dx (1  x ) ln(1  d )
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