FURTHER STUDIES IN PHYSICS (2015-2016)

Problems-Chapter 1: Electric Field

r r r r
1.- Express the position vector r = xi + yj + zk in cylindrical and spherical coordinates.
y
2.- Two point charges +Q are placed on the y +Q
2a +Q
axis at distances a and –a from the origin. Find
the force exerted by these two charges on a third x
point charge +Q lying on the x axis. +Q

3.- A small conducting sphere with mass m and z

charge Q is suspended by a thread from a point
of an infinite uniformly charged plane (surface
θ y
density charge, σ). If the plane lies in the xz x
plane, calculate the angle θ that the thread
makes with the z axis. m, Q

4.- A thin uniformly charged rod of length L and charge Q is bent into a semicircle.
Calculate the electric field in the center of the semicircle.
y
5.- A thin rod of length L and uniform linear charge density
λ is placed at a distance d from the origin along the x axis. d
A similar rod (length L and charge density λ) is placed
x
along the y axis. Find the total electric field due to the rods d
at the origin (0,0).

6.- A hemispherical shell of radius R carries a charge Q uniformly distributed over its
surface. Find the electric field at the center of the hemisphere (that is, the center of the
sphere from which the hemisphere was cut).

7.- A ring of radius R and uniform linear charge z

density λ lies on the xy plane with its center at
the origin. A straight thin wire of length L and z0
linear charge density λ is placed along the z
axis, being its bottom end at a distance z0 from y
the origin. Find the electrostatic force exerted x
by the ring on the wire.

8.- A ring of radius R lies in the plane xy with its center at y

the origin and charged with a non uniform linear charge
density, λ. Find the electric field at the center of the ring, if R
ϕ
λ depends on the angle ϕ with the x axis: λ = λ0 sen ϕ (λ0: x
constant).

9.- Show, using the Gauss’s law, that the electric field at any point inside a uniformly
charged spherical shell is zero. Demonstrate the same result for an infinitely long
cylindrical shell of charge (length much larger than the radius).
10.- Find and plot the electric field as a function of the distance r to the cylinder axis due
to (a) an infinitely long uniformly charged cylinder (volume charge density, ρQ, radius R)
and (b) an infinitely long conductor cylinder charged with a charge Q.

11.- Consider a solid sphere of radius R1

uniformly charged with a total charge Q and a R3
concentric conducting spherical shell of inner
R1
and external radii R2 and R3, respectively. Find
the electric field as a function of the distance r R2
to the center of the sphere and the induced
surface charge densities in the spherical
conducting shell.

12.- A solid sphere of radius R has a non uniform volume charge distribution given by
ρ = ρ 0 r where r is the distance to the center of the sphere. Find the electric field as a
function of r. ¿Is the electric field for r > R equivalent to the electric field due to a point
charge with the total charge located at the center of the sphere?
Solutions:
r r
1. rr = ρur ρ + zur z r = rur
r Q2 x r
2. F = 3 i
2πε 0 ( a 2 + x 2 ) 2

 Qσ 
3. θ = atg  
 2ε 0 mg 
r Q r
4. E = i
2ε 0 L2
r λL r r
5. E = −
4πε d ( L + d )
(i + j )
0

r σ r
6. E = k
4ε 0

r Rλ 2  1 1
r
k
7. F = −

) ( ( z0 + L)2 + R 2 ) 2 
2ε 0 z 2 + R 2 2
 ( 0
1 1

r λ r
8. E = − 0 j
4ε 0 R

r ρq r r ρq R 1 r
2
10. Uniformly charged cylinder: E= ρu ρ (ρ < R ) E= uρ ( ρ > R )
2ε 0 2ε 0 ρ

r r Q 1r
Conductor cylinder: E = 0 (ρ < R ) E= uρ (ρ > R )
2πLε 0 ρ

r Q r r Q 1 r
11. E = ru r ( r < R1 ) E= ur ( R1 < r < R 2 )
4πε 0 R13 4πε 0 r 2

r r Q 1 r
E=0 ( R2 < r < R3 ) E= ur ( r > R3 )
4πε 0 r 2

−Q Q
σ2 = σ3 =
4πR22 4πR32

r ρ0 2 r r ρ R4 1 r
12. E = r ur (r < R ) E= 0 ur ( r > R ).
4ε 0 4ε 0 r 2

Yes, because the total charge is QT = πρ0 R 4