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Midterm Exam Solution

. Electromagnetic Theory Mar 06, 2019
. Dr. Shafayat Abrar 50 Points

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Q1. (10 points) A point charge Q sits at a corner of a cube, as shown
here. What is the flux of E through the shaded side?

Hint: The position of charge may be considered to be at the origin. To

evaluate flux in Coulomb, you need to solve the following equation over
the specified shaded surface:
Z
ψ = ǫ0 E · dS

Solution: Think of this cube as one of 8 surrounding the charge. Each

of the 24 squares which make up the surface of this larger cube gets the
same flux as every other one, so:
Z Z I
ǫ0 ǫ0 ǫ0 Q Q
ǫ0 E · dS = whole
E · dS = E · dS = =
one 24 large 24 24 ǫ0 24
face
cube

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Q2. (10 points) A long solid cylinder (of radius a) carries a volumetric
charge density that is proportional to the distance from the axis: ρv =
kρ, for some constant k. Using Gauss’s theorem, show that the electric
field E inside this cylinder is given as:
k 2
E= ρ aρ
3ǫ0

Hint: It is an infinite cylinder, for which E = Eρ aρ is true. You may

consider a Gauss’s closed surface (an inner cylinder of height l and field
radius ρ, as shown here) and evaluate the following:

1
I
E · dS = Qenc.
ǫ0

Solution: For R.H.S., we introduce an auxiliary variable such that 0 ≤ ρ̌ ≤ ρ ≤ a.

I Z Z L Z 2π



L.H.S. = E · dS = outer E · dS = Eρ aρ · ρdφdzaρ = 2πLρEρ
cylindrical z=0 φ=0
surface
L 2π ρ
Qenc. 1 k k k ρ3
Z ZZZ Z Z Z
R.H.S. = = ρv dv = ρ̌ ρ̌dρ̌dφdz = ρ̌2 dρ̌dφdz = 2πL
ǫ0 ǫ0 ǫ0 ǫ0 z=0 φ=0 ρ̌=0 ǫ0 3
Comparing the two sides, we get the required equation.
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Q3. (20 points) A thick spherical shell carries charge density

k
(
, a≤r≤b
ρv = r2
0, otherwise.

(a) Find the electric field E in the three regions:

. (i) r < a, (ii) a < r < b, (iii) r > b.

(b) Plot |E| as a function of r, for the case b = 2a.

Hint: Owing to symmetry, E = Er ar is true.

Solution: For r < 0, E = 0. For a < r < b, repeat in a similar fashion as I have shown in Q2;
introduce an auxiliary variable such that a ≤ ř ≤ r ≤ b.
I Z π Z 2π
Er ar · r 2 sin(θ) dφ dθ ar = 4πr 2 Er



L.H.S. = E · dS =
θ=0 φ=0
π 2π r
Qenc. 1 k 1 2 k k
Z ZZZ Z Z Z
R.H.S. = = ρv dv = 2
ř sin(θ) dř dφ dθ = sin(θ) dř dφ dθ = 4π(r − a)
ǫ0 ǫ0 ǫ0 ř ǫ0 θ=0 φ=0 ř=a ǫ0

Comparing the two, we obtain:

k (r − a)
E = Er ar = ar , a≤r≤b
ǫ0 r 2
For r > b, we solve as follows (we do not need to introduce any auxiliary variable in the evaluation of
R.H.S.):
I Z π Z 2π
Er ar · r 2 sin(θ) dφ dθ ar = 4πr 2 Er



L.H.S. = E · dS = (same as above)
θ=0 φ=0
π 2π b
Qenc. 1 k 1 2 k k
Z ZZZ Z Z Z
R.H.S. = = ρv dv = 2
r sin(θ) dr dφ dθ = sin(θ) dr dφ dθ = 4π(b − a)
ǫ0 ǫ0 ǫ0 r ǫ0 θ=0 φ=0 r=a ǫ0

Comparing the two, we obtain:

k (b − a)
E = Er ar = ar , b≤r<∞
ǫ0 r 2
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Q4. (10 points)

(a) Three charges are situated at the corners of a square (each side is
length a). How much work does it take to bring in another charge, +q,
from far away and place it in the fourth corner?

(b) How much work does it take to assemble the whole configuration
of four charges?
   
q2 √1 − 2 , and (b) Wtotal = 2q 2 √1
Solution: Do it yourself to show (a) W4 = 4πǫ 0a 2 4πǫ0 a 2
−2 .

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Q5. (10 points) Find the energy of a uniformly charged spherical (hollow) shell of total charge q
and radius a.

Hint: The sphere acts like a point charge; if the total charge is q, then the field E outside the
sphere is given as
1 q
E= ar (a 6 r < ∞)
4πǫ0 r 2
Use WE = (ǫ0 /2) E 2 dv, where the volume (triple) integral is evaluated for the entire space;
R

say we integrate (in the spherical coordinate system) from the surface of the sphere to infinity.
We can exclude sphere’s inner region because the field is zero inside.
Solution: Do it yourself to show:

ǫ0 q2
Z
WE = E 2 dv =
2 8πǫ0 a
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Q6. (10 points) Determine the total charge

(a) On the cylinder ρ = 4, 0 < z < 10, if ρs = ρz 3 [nC/m2 ]

10
(b) Within the cylinder r = 3, if ρv = r 2 sin θ
[C/m3 ]

(c) On line 0 < x < 5, if ρl = 12x3 [C/m]

Solution: This is easy; do it yourself, and talk to each other to get your answers verified.
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