PHYS 225 E& M PSet # 6 Solutions

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4.11 Polarization
The bound charge density ρb = 0 since the polarization vector P := Pẑ is uniform.
However,
σb = P · n̂ = ± P
the signs correspond to the two surfaces.
(i) In this case we take the length L to be large or the radius a to be small. That
is we send a/L → 0. In this case we have an electric dipole with dipole moment
~P = pẑ and p = qL = Pπa2 · L. The field lines will be that of a physical dipole.
(ii) In this case we take the length L to be small or the radius a to be large. That
is we send a/L → ∞. In this case we have a capacitor consisting of two circular
parallel plates separated by a distance L. The field will be almost uniform near the
axis of the plates away from the edge.
(iii) In this case the sizes are comparable. That is we send a/L → 1. In this we
will have fringing effect. See figure 4.31.

4.16 Electric displacement

(a) Using the principle of superposition and the result in Eq. 4.14 we find that
 
1 2
E = E0 − − P =⇒ D = e0 E = D0 − P
3e0 3

(b) Away from the end points of the needle we can take E = E0 . Thus,

D = e0 E0 = D0 − P

(c) The thin water-shaped cavity can be thought of as a capacitor consisting of

two identical circular parallel plates with separation very small compared to the
radius of the circular plate. The field in between will be uniform and its magnitude
is given by | eσ0 | = | eP0 |. Thus,

P
E = E0 − (− ) =⇒ D = D0
e0
1 Meseret Asrat, [email protected], 02211

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PHYS 225 E& M PSet # 6 Solutions
4.21 Capacitor

To find the electric field in the region a ≤ s ≤ b we use Gauss’s law. Let λ is the total
charge per unit length Q/l of the inner conductor. We find
Z
λ λ
D · dA = D2πsl = Q =⇒ D = =⇒ E =
2πs 2πe0 s
In the region b ≤ s ≤ c we have similarly taking into account the dielectric constant
e
λ
E=
2πes
To get the capacitance per unit length we need to first get the potential difference
between the inner and outer most surfaces.
Z a Z b Z a
λ λ λ
V= E·d = − ds + − ds = (ln(b/a) + (e0 /e) ln(c/b))
c c 2πes b 2πe0 s 2πe0
Thus, the capacitance per length is
C λ 2πe0
= =
l V ln(b/a) + (1/er ) ln(c/b)

4.26 Energy in Dielectric systems

From Example 4.5 we have the following results

D = 0 = E, for r<a
Q
D= r̂, E = D/e, for a < r < b
4πr2
Q
D= r̂, E = D/e0 , for b < r
4πr2
Thus, the total energy is

1 1 b 2 1 ∞ 2 Q2
 Z 
1
Z Z
W= D · EdV = 2
D 4πr dr + 2
D 4πr dr = (1/a + χe /b)
2 2 e a e0 b 8πe0 (1 + χe )

4.28 Forces on Dielectrics

The upward force is given by Equation 4.64
1 dC 1 dC
F = V2 = V2
2 dx 2 dh

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PHYS 225 E& M PSet # 6 Solutions
This force is equal to the downward gravitation force

F = mg = ρπ (b2 − a2 )h · g

The capacitance by definition is given by

Q
C=
V
We next compute Q. The electric field in the region occupied by air is

λair λ
Eair = =⇒ V = air ln(b/a)
2πe0 s 2πe0
and in the region occupied by the oil is

λoil λ
Eoil = =⇒ V = oil ln(b/a)
2πes 2πe
Since the potential on the outer surface is fixed, we have the following relations

λoil = er λair

Thus, the total charge, given the total height is H, is

Q = λair ( H − h) + λoil h = λair ( H + χe h)

Thus
2πe0 ( H + χe h)
C=
ln(b/a)
Or one can use the result of problem 4.21 with c = b and think of the two regions
as two coaxial capacitors with lengths h and H − h connected in parallel. This gives
similar answer without the need to compute Q.
Equating the first two equations for the force we find

e0 V 2 χ e
h=
ρ(b2 − a2 ) g ln(b/a)

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