Semester II, 2015-16

Department of Physics, IIT Kanpur

PHY103A: Lecture # 4
(Mostly based on Intro to Electrodynamics by Griffiths, 3rd Ed.)

Anand Kumar Jha

The Helmholtz theorem:

A vector field in elctrodynamics can be completely determined if:

(i) The divergence is known
(ii) The curl is known
(iii) If the field goes to zero at infinity.

Scalar Potential:
If the curl of a vector field F is zero, that is, if = 0 everywhere, then:
b

(1) a is independent of path.

This is because of Stokes theorem

(2) = 0 for any closed loop.

(3) is the gradient of a scalar function: = V

This is because Curl of a gradient is zero V =

The minus sign is purely conventional.
The scalar potential not unique. A constant can be added to
V without affecting the gradient: V= (V + a), since the
gradient of a constant is zero.
3

Vector Potential:
If the divergence of a vector field F is zero, that is, if = 0 everywhere, then:

(1) is independent of surface.

This is because of the divergence theorem

(2) = 0 for any closed surface.

(3) is the gradient of a vector function: =

This is because divergence of a curl is zero = 0

The vector potential is not unique. A gradient V of a scalar

function can be added to without affecting the curl, since
the curl of a gradient is zero.
4

r
Divergence of the vector field = 2
r

r
2
Recall Homework Problem 1.5. The divergence rn = (n+1).
r
r
r
0
So, for = r2 , = r2 = r3 = 0 (except at r=0 where it is 0/0, not defined
Lets calculate the divergence using the divergence theorem:

Take the volume integral over a sphere of radius R and the

surface integral over the surface of a sphere of radius R.

Therefore,

R2

2 sin r = sin = 4

= 4

We find that =0 but its integral over a volume is finite. This is only possible if
=

r
= 4 ()
r2

r
Divergence of the vector field = 2
r

r
2
Recall Homework Problem 1.5. The divergence rn = (n+1).
r
r
r
0
So, for = r2 , = r2 = r3 = 0 (except at r=0 where it is 0/0, not defined)
Lets calculate the divergence using the divergence theorem:

Take the volume integral over a sphere of radius R and the

surface integral over the surface of a sphere of radius R.

Therefore,

R2

2 sin r = sin = 4
r
2 ? ?
r

= 4

We find that =0 but its integral over a volume is finite. This is only possible if
=

r
= 4 ()
r2

r
= 4 (r) = 4 ( )
r2

Electric Field
Coulombs Law
Force on a test charge due to a single point charge is:

1
=
r (in the units of Newton)
2
40 r
0 = 8.85

1012

C2
N m2

Permittivity
of free space

Force on a test charge Q due to a collection of point charges is:

1
1
2
3
=
r + 2 r2 + 2 r3 +
r2
r3
40 r12 1
() =

= ()

1
1
2
3
r

+
r

+
r3 +
1
2
2
2
2
r2
r3
40 r1

Q: What is field (a vector function), physically?

A: We dont really know. At this level, field is just a mathematical

concept which is consistent with the physical theory
(electrodynamics). Also, we know how to calculate a field.

Electric Field
Electric field due to a single point charge is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

Electric Field
Electric field due to a single point charge is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

Electric field due to a collection of point charges is:

1
1
2
3
() =
r +
r +
r +
40 r12 1 r22 2 r32 3

So, the electric field due to a continuous charge distribution is:

() =
2 r
40 r

For a line charge =

For a surface charge =

For a volume charge =

We already know how to calculate electric fields due any arbitrary charge distributions using
Coulombs law. Well now explore some tricks for calculating the fields more efficiently. 9

Electric Flux and Gausss Law:

Electric field due to a single point charge is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

Electric field () due to a single point charge at origin is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

Electric field is a vector field. One way to

represent a vector field is by drawing a vectors
of given magnitude and directions.

10

Electric Flux and Gausss Law:

Electric field due to a single point charge is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

Electric field () due to a single point charge at origin is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

Electric field is a vector field. One way to

represent a vector field is by drawing a vectors
of given magnitude and directions.
Another way to represent a vector field is by
drawing the field lines:
(i) Field lines emanate from the positive charge
and end up on the negative charge or go up
to infinity.
(ii) The density is the filed lines is proportional
to the strength of the field.

11

Electric Flux and Gausss Law:

Electric field () due to a single point charge at origin is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

The electric flux is defined as

=

is proportional the number of field lines

passing through an area element

When the area is perpendicular to the field the

dot product is zero.

12

Electric Flux and Gausss Law:

Electric field () due to a single point charge at origin is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

The electric flux due to a point charge at origin through a spherical shell of radius R.

2
= =
r sinr =
2

4
0
0

=0 =0

13

Electric Flux and Gausss Law:

Electric field () due to a single point charge at origin is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

The electric flux due to a collection of point charges through any enclosing closed surface.

= =
0

14

Electric Flux and Gausss Law:

Electric field () due to a single point charge at origin is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

The electric flux due to a collection of point charges through any enclosing closed surface.

=? ?

15

Electric Flux and Gausss Law:

Electric field () due to a single point charge at origin is:

1
() =
r
40 r2

The electric flux due to a collection of point charges through any enclosing closed surface.

. =

enc
=
0

. =
0
=

This is the Gausss law in the integral form

--- The flux through a surface is equal to
the total charge enclosed by the surface
divided by 0

16

Electric Flux and Gausss Law:

enc
=
0

Or,

Or,

enc
=
0

This is the Gausss law in the integral form.

Using divergence
=
theorem

1
=
0

=
0

For a volume
enc =
Charge density

This is Gausss law in differential form

Gausss law doesnt have any information that the Coulombs does not contain. The
importance of Gausss law is that it makes calculating electric field much simpler and
17
provide a deeper understanding of the field itself.

Electric Flux and Gausss Law:

enc
=
0

This is the Gausss law. It is in the integral form.

Q: (Griffiths: Ex 2.10): What is the flux through the shaded face of the cube due to the
charge at the corner
Ans:

1
=
24 0

Gausss law doesnt have any information that the Coulombs does not contain. The
importance of Gausss law is that it makes calculating electric field much simpler and
18
provide a deeper understanding of the field itself.