Amir Borji

Engineering Electromagnetics

Homework 3

Problem 3.1 (a) The potential of dipole 1 is

p~1 ~r
p~1 r
=
40 r2
40 r3


We take the gradient and note that (~
p1 ~r) = p~1 and 1/r3 = 3
r/r4 , thus


1
(~
p1 ~r)
1
1
~
+ (~
p1 ~r) 3 =
[3 (~
p1 r) r p~1 ]
E1 = V1 =
3
40
r
r
40 r3
V1 (~r) =

(b) First lets find the force on a dipole in an arbitrary electric field. Assume that charge +q is located at ~r + ~
and charge q is located at ~r ~. In the limit 0 and the dipole moment is p~ = 2q~. The total force on the
dipole is:
~ r + ~) q E(~
~ r ~)
F~ = q E(~
(1)

~ r ~) and keeping only the first two significant terms we have:

Using the Taylor series expansion for E(~
~ r ~) E(~
~ r) (~ )E(~
~ r)
E(~

(2)

Substituting (2) back into (1) and taking the limit 0 we get:


~ r) (~
~ r) = ~
~
F~ 2q(~ )E(~
p )E(~
pE

(3)

It is apparent from (1) or (3) that in a uniform field the net force will be zero. Now we use the above expression
to find the force between two dipoles. The force on dipole 2 exerted by dipole 1 is:






1
1
(~
p

p
~
)
3
(~
p

)
(~
p

(~
p

p
~
)
3
(~
p

~
r
)
(~
p

~
r
)
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
2
~ 1 = p~2 E
~1 =
F~2 = (~
p2 ) E
=

40
r3
40
r5
r3
after taking the gradient and using the chain rule, we obtain


3 (~
p1 r) p~2 + 3 (~
p2 r) p~1 + [3 (~
p2 p~1 ) 15 (~
p1 r) (~
p2 r)] r
1
~
F2 =
40
r4

(4)

(c) We can use (4) to calculate the force on the central dipole but instead I will use (3) directly because it is
~ is F~ = (~
~ Here the central
easier. We found that the force exerted upon a dipole by the electric field E
p ) E.
~ at x = d.
dipole is at x = d and the other two dipoles at x = 0, 2d create the electric field E
~
~ = p E
F~ = (p
x ) E
x
p~

p~
d

p~
d

The total electric field at x = d due to the dipoles at x = 0, 2d is given by

~ =E
~1 + E
~2 =
E

1
p
1
[3 (p
zx
) x
p
z] +
{3 [p
x (
x)] (
x) p
x} =
(
z + 2
x)
3
3
40 d
40 d
40 d3

To calculate the force we should be careful in taking the derivatives. For the right dipole
=
but for the
x
d

=
left dipole
x
d
~1
~2
~
E
E
3p2
E
=p
p
=
(
z + 2
x)
F~ = p
x
d
d
40 d4
Exercise: Derive this expression by using (4).
Fall 2013

Sharif University of Technology

Amir Borji

Engineering Electromagnetics

Homework 3

Problem 3.2 () (a) From Coulombs law and superposition we have

q
Ex (x, 0, 0) =
40

xa
x+a

3
|x a|
|x + a|3

We are looking for the point(s) at which Ex (x, 0, 0) = 0. As shown in the figure, for a < x < a the electric fields
from both charges are always co-directional and they cannot cancel each other, therefore, there is no zero field
point for x [a, a]. For x > a and x < a the two electric fields are in opposite direction and they can cancel
each other. For x > a we have:
for

x>a

Ex (x, 0, 0) = 0

1
1

=0
(x a)2
(x + a)2

(1)

if = 1 then (1) has no answer for x > a. Hence, we assume 6= 1 and (1) is reduced to:
+1
x + a2 = 0
1

(2)


+1
2
x=a

1 | 1|

(3)

x2 2a
which has two roots:

However, we need to choose the answer which is greater than a. After some algebra we find out that:

+1+2

if > 1
x=a
1

no solution
if < 1

For x < a again we obtain the same equation as (1). If = 1 then (1) has no answer for x < a. For 6= 1 we
obtain (2). Here, we need to choose the answer which is less than a. After some algebra we find out that:

no solution
if > 1

x = a + 1 + 2 if < 1
1
At this point V = 0 but, as we discussed in class, the potential cannot have any maximum or minimum at points
which no charge exists. Therefore, this point can only be a saddle point.
(b) The potential function in space is
)
(

q
1
p
p
V (x, y, z) =
40
(x a)2 + y 2 + z 2
(x + a)2 + y 2 + z 2
if we let

V (x, y, z) = 0
then the desired equipotential surface is:
1
p

(x

a)2

y2

z2

p
=0
2
(x + a) + y 2 + z 2

For = 1 this surface becomes the yOz plane or x = 0. For 6= 1 above equation is transformed into

2
2 + 1
4a2 2
2 + 1
x = 0 = x a 2
+ y2 + z2 = 2
x2 + y 2 + z 2 + a2 2a 2
1
1
( 1)2
which represents a sphere whose center is (a
Fall 2013

2 + 1
2a
, 0, 0) and its radius is 2
.
2
1
| 1|

Sharif University of Technology

Amir Borji

Engineering Electromagnetics

Homework 3

Problem 3.3 We can solve this problem without calculating any integrals! First, imagine another cube with
the same charge density but with twice the side length (2a). Let the potential at the center of this cube be V0 .
The point at the center of this new cube lies at the corner of each of eight cubes of the original size. Because the
potential is additive, using superposition, we have
V0 = 8V1

(1)

V0 = 8V1

V1

2a

V0

2a

On the other hand we use a dimensional argument to find V0 in terms of V0 . We must note that the potential
at the center of a uniformly charged cube is always proportional to Q/a in which Q = a3 v is the total charge in
the cube. To find out why, see the following:
V0 =

v
40

a/2
a/2

a/2
a/2

a/2
a/2

dx dy dz
p
x 2 + y 2 + z 2

Using the change of variable x = au, y = av, and z = aw we obtain

V0 =

v a 3
40 a

1/2
1/2

1/2
1/2

1/2
1/2

Q
dudvdw
=
K
2
2
4
+v +w
0a

u2

K is a constant number and is independent of a. Thus, the potential at the center of cube is proportional to
Q
= v a2 . Using this argument we can compare the potential at the center of the large cube and that of the
a
original cube:
K
8Q
= 4V0
(2)

V0 =
2a
40
Therefore
V0 = 2V1

(3)

Problem 3.4 We calculate the total energy by bringing in each infinitesimal ring of charge from infinity
and adding up the energy for each ring. We assume that we have already built up the disc to radius r. We now
bring in a ring of width dr and stick it on the edge. The energy necessary to bring in a charge from infinity to
some point is just the potential at that point times the charge. The potential on the rim of the disc where we are
r
putting the next ring is V (r) = S which we obtained in class. The energy necessary to bring this ring to its
0
place is
22
r
dW = V (r)dq = S 2rdrS = S r2 dr
0
0
To add up all the rings, we must integrate from 0 to a.
W =

a
0

22S 2
22 a3
r dr = S
0
30

Problem 3.5 In all cases we assume the left dipole is present (at origin) and we bring in the right dipole
from infinity. The stored energy is equal to the work that we do in this process. However, we saw in class that

Fall 2013

Sharif University of Technology

Amir Borji

Engineering Electromagnetics

Homework 3

~ 1 . We derived
the potential energy of the second dipole when the first dipole is present is equal to W = ~
p2 E
the electric field of a dipole in problem 1. The electric field of the left dipole at point ~r = d x
is
~1 =
E

1
1
[3 (~
p1 r) r p~1 ] =
[3 (~
p1 x
) x
p~1 ]
3
40 r
40 d3

and the potential energy of the right dipole in the above field is
~1 =
W = ~
p2 E

1
[3 (~
p1 x
) (~
p2 x
) p~1 p~2 ]
40 d3

Case A: we have p~1 = p~2 = p

z thus
W =
Case B: we have p~1 = ~
p2 = p
z thus
W =
Case C: we have p~1 = ~
p2 = p
x thus
W =
Case D: we have p~1 = p~2 = p
x thus
W =


1 
p2
2
3
(0)
(0)

p
=
40 d3
40 d3


1 
p2
2
=

3
(0)
(0)
+
p
40 d3
40 d3

2p2
1 
2
3
(p)
(p)
+
p
=
40 d3
40 d3

1 
2p2
2
3
(p)
(p)

p
=

40 d3
40 d3

Problem 3.6 There are basically two possible arrangements of charges. For the first (left) arrangement, the
work required to bring the charges from infinity is:


e2
1
1
1

W =
2 2 + 2
40
a
b
a2 + b2
This expression is always negative for all values of a and b.
+e

+e

+e

+e

For the second (right) arrangement, the work required to bring the charges from infinity is:


e2
1
1
1
W =
+2 2 2
40
a
b
a2 + b2
This expression can be negative or positive. For example of a = b, it is negative and if b a then it is positive.
Let x = b/a, then:
W = 0 =

1
1
1 1

= 0 = x 1
= 0 = (x 1)2 (1 + x2 ) = x2
a b
a2 + b2
1 + x2

b
= 1.883203506
a
If b/a > 1.8832 then the energy is positive and if b/a < 1.8832 the energy is negative.
= x4 2x3 + x2 2x + 1 = 0 = x =

Fall 2013

Sharif University of Technology

Amir Borji

Engineering Electromagnetics

Homework 3

Problem 3.7 () (a) First we must find the charges and potentials of all conductors. Assume charge qa is
drawn from the ground and distributed uniformly on the outer surface of sphere r = a and charge qc will be drawn
from the ground and distributed on the inner surface of sphere r = c. We can use Gauss law to calculate the
electric field:
4r2 0 Er (r) = Qinside
~ =0
Qinside = 0 E

r<a

a<r<b

~ =
Qinside = qa E

b<r<c

Qinside

c<r

Qinside

qa
r
40 r2
~ = qa + Q r
= qa + Q E
40 r2
~ = qa + Q + qc r
= qa + Q + qc E
40 r2

The potential of the outer sphere r = c is zero, therefore:

Z
~ = 0 = qa + Q + qc qa + Q + qc = 0
~ dl
V (c) =
E
40 c
r=c

(1)

The potential of the inner sphere is also zero, i.e. the potential difference between r = a and r = c is zero:




Z c
Z b
Z c
1 1
qa + Q 1 1
qa
~
~
~
~
~
~

+
=0
(2)
E dl =
E dl +
E dl =
0 = V (a) V (c) =
40 a b
40
b
c
b
a
a
Now we have to solve (1) and (2) to find qa and qb . From (2) we get




1 1
1 1
a(c b)
qa

+Q
= 0 qa = Q
a c
b
c
b(c a)

(3)

From (1) and (3) we obtain

qc = qa Q = Q

c(b a)
b(c a)

(4)

The potential of the middle conducting sphere is



Z c
q
+
Q
1
1
Q (c b)(b a)
qc c b
a
~ =
~ dl
V (b) = V (b) V (c) =
E

=
=
40
b
c
40 bc
40 b2 (c a)
b

(5)

The stored energy is:

1
WE =
2

Fall 2013

ZZ

1
s V ds =
2

Z Z

qa
V (a) ds +
4a2

ZZ

Q
V (b) ds +
4b2

ZZ

Sharif University of Technology


qc
V (c) ds
4c2
1
Q2 (c b)(b a)
= Q V (b) =
2
80 b2 (c a)

(6)

Amir Borji

Engineering Electromagnetics

Homework 3

(b) Here, charge qb will be drawn from the ground and distributed uniformly over the middle sphere r = b
such that its potential becomes zero.
r<a

~ =0
E

a<r<b

~ =
E

b<r<c

c<r

Q1
r
40 r2
~ = Q1 + qb r
E
40 r2
~ = Q1 + qb Q2 r
E
40 r2

The potential of the middle sphere is zero, therefore:



Z
Z c
Z
Q1 + qb 1 1
Q1 + qb Q2
~
~
~
~
~
~
0 = V (b) =
E dl =
E dl +
E dl =

=0
+
40
b
c
40 c
b
b
c

(7)

solving (7) we obtain:

qb = b

Q1 Q2

b
c

b
= Q1 + Q2
c

We also need to know potentials of the inner and outer spheres:



Z b
1 1
Q1
~
~

V (a) =
E dl =
40 a b
a


Z c
Q
+
q
1
1
1
b
~ =
~ dl
E
V (c) =

40
b
c
b

(8)

(9)
(10)

From (8) and (10) we have

Q1 b a
40 ab
Q2 c b
V (c) =
40 c2

V (a) =

(11)
(12)

The stored electric energy is:

1
1
WE = (Q1 V (a) + qb V (b) Q2 V (c)) =
2
80
If you integrate

0 ~ 2
2 |E|



2b a
2c b
Q1
+ Q2 2
ab
c

(13)

over all space you get the same result.

Problem 3.8 As the electron drifts through the accelerating anode, it will acquire kinetic energy given by
W = eVa
which is equal to 21 mvx2 if the electron starts from rest. Therefore, it will enter the deflecting plates with a
horizontal velocity vx given by
r
2eVa
vx =
m
Fall 2013

Sharif University of Technology

Amir Borji

Engineering Electromagnetics

Homework 3

As the electron enters the deflecting plates, it will be accelerated upward (downward) during the time td = d/vx
that it is between the plates. The vertical component of its velocity goes from zero to
vy =

eEd
eEd d
td =
m
m vx

when the electron leaves the plates. At the time when it just leaves the plates, it will have traveled a distance y
upward (downward) given by
 
1 eEd 2 1 eEd d 2
y =
t =
2 m d 2 m
vx
Note that during deflection the horizontal velocity vx is preserved because the only acting force on electron is
vertical. After leaving the plates the electron will proceed a straight line path to the screen. The deflection angle
is given by
vy
Ed d
eEd d
= tan1
= tan1
= tan1
2
vx
mvx
2Va
The electron will reach the screen at y given by
y = y + (x d) tan y + x tan

Ed d
x
2Va

where we have assumed y y and x d which is usually the case in practice.

Fall 2013

Sharif University of Technology