Tut 3

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 3

Tutorial No. 3 UG 1st Yr PHI-101 (Physics I) Autumn Sem.

2024-25

Note: These problems are from Griffiths’ Chapter 2.

1. A long coaxial cable (Fig. shown) carries a uniform volume charge


density ρ on the inner cylinder (radius a), and a uniform surface charge
density on the outer cylindrical shell (radius b). This surface charge is
negative and is of just the right magnitude that the cable as a whole is
electrically neutral.
Find the electric field in each of the three regions:
(i) inside the inner cylinder (s < a), (ii) between the cylinders (a < s <b),
(iii) outside the cable (s >b). Plot lEI as a function of s.

2. An infinite plane slab, of thickness 2d, carries a uniform volume charge


density p (Fig. 1). Find the electric field, as a function of y, where y = 0 at the
center. Plot E versus y, calling E positive when it points in the + y direction and
negative when it points in the - y direction.

3. One of these is an impossible electrostatic field. Which one and why?

(a) E = k [x y x + 2 y z y + 3 x z z]; (b) E = k[y2 x + (2 x y + z2) y + 2 y z z].

Here k is a constant with the appropriate units. For the possible field, find the potential,
using the origin as your reference point. Check your answer by computing gradient of V. You may
select a specific path of your choice to integrate along.

4. Find the potential inside and outside a uniformly charged solid sphere
whose radius is R and whose total charge is q. Use infinity as your reference point.
Compute the gradient of V in each region, and check that it yields the correct field.
Sketch V(r).

5. Find the potential a distance s from an infinitely long straight wire


that carries a uniform line charge λ. Compute the gradient of your potential, and
check that it yields the correct field.

6. Find the potential a distance s from an infinitely long straight wire


that carries a uniform line charge λ. Compute the gradient of your potential, and
check that it yields the correct field.

7. For the charge configuration of Fig. shown on Right), find the potential at the
center, using infinity as your reference point. Use the charge density in the
shaded region as ρ = k/ r2 .
8. For the configuration of Question No. 1, find the potential difference between a point on the axis and
a point on the outer cylinder. Note that it is not necessary to commit yourself to a particular reference
point while finding the potential difference.

9. Using the following Eqs.

find the potential at a distance z above the center of the three charge distributions shown below.
In each case, compute E = - gradient V, and compare your answer with that obtained by applying
directly a suitable formula for E.

Fig. for Q. 9 (a) Two point charges (b) Uniform line charge (c) Uniform surface charge

Suppose that we changed the right-hand charge in Fig. (a) to -q; what then is the potential at P? What
field does that suggest? Discuss your result.

10. A conical surface (an empty ice-cream cone) carries a uniform surface charge a. The height of the
cone is h, as is the radius of the top. Find the potential difference between points a (the vertex) and b
(the center of the top).

11. Find the potential on the axis of a uniformly charged solid cylinder, a distance z from the center. The
length of the cylinder is L, its radius is R, and the charge density is ρ. Use your result to calculate the
electric field at this point. (Assume that z > L/2.)

12. Calculate the potential inside a uniformly charged solid sphere of radius R and total charge q.
Compare your answer to that for Q. No. 4.

13. Write the boundary conditions for the Electric field at the interface of two mediums. Apply these to
the following problems and check with the directly obtained results (i.e. without applying these
boundary conditions) for the Electric field.

(a) An infinite plane carries a uniform surface charge σ. Find its electric field.

(b) Two infinite parallel planes carry equal but opposite uniform charge densities ± σ. Find the field in
each of the three regions: (i) to the left of both, (ii) between them, (iii) to the right of both.
(c) Use Gauss's law to find the electric field inside and outside a spherical shell of radius R that carries a
uniform surface charge density σ. Check that the results are consistent with the boundary conditions.

You might also like