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Lecture10

The lecture covers Laplace's equation and its applications in electricity and magnetism, focusing on boundary conditions and the uniqueness theorem. It discusses examples of charge distributions, potential calculations in one, two, and three dimensions, and emphasizes properties such as the average value theorem and the absence of local extrema. The method of relaxation is introduced as a technique for solving potential problems in various geometries.

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PRATEEK MISHRA
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4 views

Lecture10

The lecture covers Laplace's equation and its applications in electricity and magnetism, focusing on boundary conditions and the uniqueness theorem. It discusses examples of charge distributions, potential calculations in one, two, and three dimensions, and emphasizes properties such as the average value theorem and the absence of local extrema. The method of relaxation is introduced as a technique for solving potential problems in various geometries.

Uploaded by

PRATEEK MISHRA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PH108: Electricity and Magnetism

Lecture 10
Instructor: Archana Pai

Laplace’s equation, Boundary conditions,


Uniqueness theorem

Textbooks: 1. Introduction to Electrodynamics by David Griffiths


Laplace’s Equation examples:
• Charge distribution may be unknown.

• Potential on the boundary of a region is known.

• If we want to know the field in that region. Compute the


potential and get the field and get the charge density

• Example 1: Uncharged conductor in the electric field

• Example 2: Metal cubical box with 5 faces welded and


grounded. Sixth face is maintained at a constant
potential
Laplace’s equation in one dimention
• Potential is a function of one variable and satisfies in an interval

• General solution is a straight line

• Fix m and b by
• Potential at two end points.
• Potential and the derivative at one boundary point.
• Property:
• Potential at a point in the interval is an average of the neighbouring points.

• No local minima or maxima. Extrema occurs at the end points.


Laplace’s equation in two dimentions
• Potential is a function of two variables

• Property:
• Value of the potential at a point in the region of interest is equal to the
average of the potential around the point

Method of relaxation is based on this.


• No local minima and maxima. Extremum values are at the boundary.
Example:

• Y=constant infinitely long metal surfaces are


grounded.
• X = constant metal stripes are maintained at
constant potential Vo.
• Compute the potential inside.
Laplace’s equation in 3-D dimentions

• Properties:
• Average value theorem

• No local minima and maxima. Extremum values are at the boundary.


Example:
• The potential at any arbitrary point on the surface of the sphere is

• The average potential – averaged over the surface

is the
potential at the center of the sphere.

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