If the electric field in some region is given (in spherical coordinates)

by the expression

E(r)=kr[3r+2sinθcosθsinϕθ+sinθcosϕϕ]

for some constant k, what is the charge density?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The charge density is p=3kε01+cos2θsinϕr2.

Step by step solution

01

Define functions

Write the expression of electric filed in a certain region,

E(r)=kr[3r+2sinθcosθsinθ+sinθcosff] ........ (1)

Here,k is constant.

Now using the Gauss Law in electrostatics, the expression the charge density in terms of electric field,

p=ε0(×E) ….. (2)

In spherical co-ordinates, the value of -E is,

.E=1γ2r(r2Er)+1rsinθθ(sinθEθ)+1rsinθϕ(Ef) …… (3)

02

Determine charge density

From the equation (1), the values ofEγ,Eθand Eϕ.

Er=3krEθ=k2sinθcosθsinθrEϕ=ksinθcosϕr

Substitutes the values of Eγ,Eθand Eϕin equation (3), then

.E=1γ2rr23kr+1rsinθθsinθk2sinθcosθsinϕr+1rsinθϕksinθcosϕr=1r23k+2ksinϕr2sinθ2sinθcos2θ+sin2θ-sinθ+kr2sinθsinθ-sinϕ=3kr2+k4cos2θ-2sin2θsinϕ+k-sinϕr2=3kr2+kr24cos2θ-2sin2θ-1sinϕ

03

Determine charge density using the identity

Using the identitysin2θ+cos2θ=1in above simplification,

.E=3kr2+kr24cos2θ-2sin2θ-sin2θ+cos2θsinϕ=3kr2+kr23cos2θ-3sin2θsinϕ=3kr2+3kr2cos2θ-sin2θsinϕ=3kr2+3kr2cos2θsinϕ

Solve further as,

.E=3k1+cos2θsinϕr2

Substitute the3k1+cos2θsinϕr2for.Ein the equation (2) to solve for .

role="math" localid="1657360938595" ρ=ε0.E=3kε01+cos2θsinϕr2

Thus, the charge density isρ=3kε01+cos2θsinϕr2 .

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A sphere of radius Rcarries a charge density ρ(r)=kr(where kis a constant). Find the energy of the configuration. Check your answer by calculating it in at least two different ways.

Use your result in Prob. 2.7 to find the field inside and outside a solidsphere of radius Rthat carries a uniform volume charge densityp.Express your answers in terms of the total charge of the sphere,q.Draw a graph of lEIas a function of the distance from the center.

In a vacuum diode, electrons are "boiled" off a hot cathode, at potential zero, and accelerated across a gap to the anode, which is held at positive potential V0. The cloud of moving electrons within the gap (called space charge) quickly builds up to the point where it reduces the field at the surface of the cathode to zero. From then on, a steady current flows between the plates.

Suppose the plates are large relative to the separation (A>>d2in Fig. 2.55), so

that edge effects can be neglected. Thenlocalid="1657521889714" V,ρand v(the speed of the electrons) are all functions of x alone.

(a) Write Poisson's equation for the region between the plates.

(b) Assuming the electrons start from rest at the cathode, what is their speed at point x, where the potential isV(x)

(c) In the steady state,localid="1657522496305" Iis independent of x. What, then, is the relation between p and v?

(d) Use these three results to obtain a differential equation forV, by eliminatingρandv.

(e) Solve this equation for Vas a function of x,V0and d. Plot V(x), and compare it to the potential without space-charge. Also, findρandvas functions of .

(f) Show that

I=kV03/2

and find the constantK. (Equation 2.56 is called the Child-Langmuir law. It holds for other geometries as well, whenever space-charge limits the current. Notice that the space-charge limited diode is nonlinear-it does not obey Ohm's law.)

Three charges are situated at the comers of a square ,as shown in Fig. 2.41.

  1. How much work does it take to bring in another charge, +q,from far away and place it in the fourth comer?
  2. How much work does it take to assemble the whole configuration of four charges?

Find the potential on the rim of a uniformly charged disk (radius R002C

charge density u).

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free