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 .

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