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6.013/ESD.013J Electromagnetics and Applications, Fall 2005

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6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn
September 20, 2005
Lecture 4: The Scalar Electric Potential and the Coulomb Superposition
Integral
I. Quasistatics
Electroquasistatics (EQS)

Magnetquasistatics (MQS)

0
E =

0 H 0
t

E =

0 H
t

)
0

0 E
H = J+
t

( )

( )

i 0 E =

H = J+

iJ+

( E)

i 0H = 0

=0
t

iJ = 0

( )

i 0 E =

II. Irrotational EQS Electric Field

1. Conservative Electric Field
0
d

E i ds = dt

H i da 0

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4
Page 1 of 6

E i ds =

E i ds +

II

E i ds = 0

E i ds
a

E i ds
a

II

Electromotive Force
(EMF)

EMF between 2 points (a, b) independent of path

E field is conservative

()

r ref

( ) E i ds

r ref =

Scalar
electric potential

r ref

r ref

E i ds =

E i ds + E i ds = ( a) (r

ref

) + ( r ) (b ) = ( a ) ( b )
ref

2. The Electric Scalar Potential

r = x ix + y iy + z iz
_

r = x i x + y i y + z i z
n = r cos

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4
Page 2 of 6

 = ( x + x, y + y, z + z ) ( x, y, z )
= ( x, y, z ) +

x +
y +
z ( x, y, z )
x
y
z

x +
y +
z
x
y
z

_
_
_
=
ix +
iy +
i i r
y
z z
x
grad =
_

= ix

_
_

+ iy
+ iz
x
y
z

grad = = i x
r +r

()

_ _
+ iy
+ iz
x
y
z

E i ds = r r + r = = i r = E i r

E =
=

n i r = i r
r cos =
n
n

n=
n
n
n

The gradient is in the direction perpendicular to the equipotential

surfaces.
III. Vector Identity
E = 0
E =

( ) = 0

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4
Page 3 of 6

IV. Sample Problem

( x, y ) =

V0 xy
a2

(Equipotential lines hyperbolas: xy=constant)

_
_
E = =
ix+
i
y y
x
=

_
V0 _
y ix+ x iy
2
a

Electric Field Lines [lines tangent to electric field]

dy Ey
x
=
= ydy = xdx
dx Ex
y
y2
x2
=
+C
2
2
y2 x2 = y20 x20

[lines pass through point ( x0 , y0 ) ]

(hyperbolas orthogonal to xy)

Courtesy of Hermann A. Haus and James R. Melcher. Used with permission.

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4
Page 4 of 6

V. Poissons Equation
i E = i ( ) =

0 2 = 0

_
_
_

_
_
_
2 = i ( ) = i x
+ iy
+ iz
ix+
iy+
i
i
x
y
z x
y
z z

2
x2

2
y2

2
z2

VI. Coulomb Superposition Integral

1. Point Charge
Er =

q
q
=
=
+C
2
r
40r
40r

Take reference (r ) = 0 C = 0
=

q
40r

2. Superposition of Charges

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4
Page 5 of 6

q2
dq1
dq2
1 q1
+
+ ...
+
+ ...
d T ( P ) =

40 r r
r r2
1
r r'
r r'

1
2

T (P ) =

1
40

N
qn

dq
+

n =1 r r n
r r'
all line,
surface, and

volume ch arg es

N
qn
1

=
+
40 n =1 r r
n

r ' dl'

+
'
r r

s r ' da'

+
'
r r

r ' dV '

'
r r

Short-hand notation

()

r =

r ' dV '

40 r r '

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 4
Page 6 of 6