PHYS 430 P.

Set 9
Dylan L. Renaud
November 19th, 2016

1 Problem Statement - 4.40

Problem 4.40 states the following:

According to Eq 4.5 the force on a single dipole is (P · ∇)E, so the net force on a dielectric object
is
Z
F = (P · ∇)Eext dτ (1)

Find the force on a tiny dielectric sphere with radius R and linear susceptibility χe due to a fine
wire a distance s away carrying a linear charge density λ.
Assume that the dielectric sphere is so small that we can assume that the external field is constant
on the sphere.

1.1 Problem Diagram

rs
λ R
O s

Figure 1: The fine wire carries a uniform charge density, λ. O denotes the origin.
The sphere’s dimensions are exaggerated here for clarity.

1.2 Solution
First, let us consider the integral argument. The polarization of a linear dielectric may be written as

P = 0 χe E (2)

Where E is the applied electric field and the other two coefficients are constants.

1.2.1 Calculation of the External Field, Eext

In this problem, the applied electric field is due to the neighboring wire. Due to the small size of the sphere,
we may consider the wire’s length to be infinite. Using this approximation, the electric field produced can
be found by using Gauss’ Law. I
λL
Eext · da =
0

1
where L is the length of an arbitrary section. The magnitude of Eext therefore is
λL
kEext k(2πsL) =
0
λ
kEext k =
2π0 s
and the vector field is
λ
Eext = ŝ (3)
2π0 s

1.2.2 Calculation of Integrand, (P · ∇)Eext

The integrand of equation (1) is
(P · ∇)Eext = 0 χe (Eext · ∇)Eext
Considering the vector portion separately we find1
∂
(Eext · ∇)Eext = (Es [Es ])ŝ
 ∂s 
∂ λ
= Es [ ] ŝ
∂s 2π0 s
λEs
=− ŝ
2π0 s2
λ2
= ŝ
4π 20 s3
2

So our final result is

λ2
 
(P · ∇)Eext = −0 χe ŝ (4)
4π 2 20 s3

1.2.3 Setting up the Integral

Using equation (4) in conjunction with equation (1) gives us our final integral. The dielectric object is a
sphere, so our integral is over the entire sphere.
λ2
Z  
F= −0 χe ŝ dτ
V 4π 2 20 s3
The problem indicates that we can assume the external field is constant on the sphere. Therefore, the
integrand may be treated as a constant and factored out.
λ2
  Z
F = −0 χe ŝ dτ
4π 2 20 s3 V

1.2.4 Calculation of the Integral

λ2
  Z
F = −0 χe ŝ dτ
4π 2 20 s3 V
 Z 2π Z π Z R
λ2

= −0 χe ŝ r2 sinθdrdθdφ
4π 2 20 s3 0 0 0
λ2 4πR3
 
= −0 χe 2 2 3 ŝ
4π 0 s 3
λ2 R 3
= −0 χe ŝ
3π20 s3

1 See ”Convective Operator” in cylindrical coordinates

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2 Problem Statement - 4.10
Problem 4.10 states the following
A sphere of radius R carries a polarization

P(r) = kr

where k is a constant and r is the vector from the center.

(a) Calculate the bound charges σb and ρb .

(b) Find the field inside and outside the sphere.

2.1 Problem Diagram

Figure 2: Dielectric sphere of radius R. The sphere carries a polarization

P(r) = kr (non-homogeneous).

2.2 Solution
2.2.1 Part (a)
For part a) we are asked to calculate the surface bound charge and volume bound charge densities. These
can be found using
σb = P · n̂ (5)
ρb = −∇ · P (6)
Noting that in spherical coordinates, n̂ = r̂, σb becomes

σb = kR · r̂ = kRr̂ · r̂ = kR

Turning to find ρb , we find

1 ∂[r2 kr] 1
ρb = −∇ · kr̂ = − 2
= − 2 (3r2 k) = −3k
r ∂r r

2.2.2 Part (b)

Finding the field requires us to first find the potential, V (r), and then take the gradient. We can find the
potential using the following equation
I Z
1 σb 0 1 ρb 0
V (r) = da + dτ (7)
4π0 rs 4π0 V rs
where rs is the separation vector. Inserting the relevant terms yields

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3 Problem Statement - 4.20
Problem 4.20 states the following
A sphere of linear dielectric material has embedded in it a uniform free charge density ρ. Find
the potential at the center of the sphere (relative to infinity), its radius is R and the dielectric
constant is r .

3.1 Problem diagram

ρ
R

Figure 3: Dielectric sphere with radius R and uniform free charge density ρ.

3.2 Solution
The sphere has a uniform free charge density. So ρ = ρf . Therefore we can use Gauss’ law for the electric
displacement to find D and then E. Once we have E, we can integrate from the origin to infinity to find the
potential at the center of the sphere.

3.2.1 Electric displacement, D

I Z
D · da = ρdτ
V
4πR3
 
2
kDk(4πr ) = ρ
3
3
ρR
kDk =
3r2
ρR3
D= r̂
3r2

3.3 Electric Field, E

Inside the sphere
D = (1 + χe )0 E
ρr
r̂ = (1 + χe )0 E
3
After some algebra
ρr
E=
r̂ ,  = (1 + χe )0
3
We need to be careful here. The preceding equation is only correct for the sphere. Outside of the sphere

ρR3
E= r̂
30 r2

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3.4 Electric Potential, (r)
The potential at the center is found by taking a line integral of E the from the center of the sphere to infinity
Z ∞
V (∞) − V (0) = E · dl
0
R Z ∞
ρR3
Z
ρr
= dr + dr
3 30 r2
0 2  R
ρR2

ρR
= +0 + 0+
6 30
 2 2

ρR ρR
= +
6 30

So the end result is

ρR2 ρR2
 
V (0)w/ respect to ∞ = − +
6 30

4 Problem Statement - 4.35

Problem 4.35 states the following
A point charge q is embedded at the center of a sphere of linear dielectric material (with suscep-
tibility χe and radius R). Find the electric field, the polarization, and the bound charge densities,
ρb and σb . What is the total bound charge on the surface? Where is the compensating negative
bound charge located?

4.1 Problem diagram

R
q

Figure 4: Dielectric sphere with radius R. A point charge q is located at the

center.

4.2 Solution
To find the electric field and polarization, we can use Gauss’ Law for the electric displacement. Once we’ve
done this, we can quickly find the electric field and polarization.

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4.3 Electric Displacement, D
I Z
D · da = ρf dτ
V
kDk(4πr2 ) = q [note, ρf = qδ 3 (r)]
q
kDk =
4πr2
q
D= r̂
4πr2

4.4 Electric Field, E and Polarization, P

The electric field may be found by utilizing a constitutive relationship

D = (1 + χe )0 E

Inside the sphere, χe is non-zero. Outside of the sphere it is zero. Therefore the field is
(
q
4πr 2 r̂ , for 0 < r ≤ R
E= q
4π0 r 2 r̂ , for r > R

We can also easily find the polarization

P = 0 χ e E
q
= 0 χ e r̂
4πr2
Using the relationship for the dielectric constant r = 0 , we find

χe q
P= r̂
4πr r2

4.5 Surface and Volume Bound Charge Densities, σb and ρb

Using the relationships mentioned in problem 2 we can calculate the surface and volume charge densities

σb = P · n̂
= P · r̂
χe q
= r̂ · r̂
4πr R2
χe q
=
4πr R2

ρb = −∇ · P
χe q
= −∇ · r̂
4πr r2
χe q
=− (4πδ 3 (r))
4πr
χe qδ 3 (r)
= −
r

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4.6 Surface Charge
The total surface charge is found from multiplying the surface charge density by the surface area (or, to be
exact, integrating the surface charge density over the surface area)
χe q
Qsurf = (4πR2 )
4πr R2
χe q
=
r

4.7 Compensating Negative Bound Charge

The compensating negative bound charge will collect around the positive charge at the center (the polariza-
tion is aligned with the field)

5 Problem Statement
This problem states the following
Consider a large slab (infinite in the x and y direction) of dielectric material which has thickness
d, and has uniform polarization P = kẑ. Assume there are no free charges anywhere (so this
polarization is permanent).

5.1 Problem diagram

P a d

Figure 5: Dielectric slab with uniform polarization P

5.2 Solution
5.2.1 Part (a)
Computing the electric field everywhere (inside the slab and outside) due to the charges arising from the
polarization of the slab requires us to take a look at the charge densities. First, we know the polarization.
With this we can compute the surface and volume bound charge densities

σb = P · n̂
= kr̂ · n̂
= k at top surface, − k at bottom surface

ρb = −∇ · P
= −∇ · (kẑ)
= 0

Side note - from my understanding we CANNOT use the the equation P = 0 χe E to find the electric field.
P here refers to a polarization as a result of an applied electric field. In this case, the electric field produced

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is due to the permanent dipoles of the materials. With the charge density information we can use Gauss’
Law to compute the field outside of the slab.

σb a 2
I
E · da =
0
2
ka
kEk(2a2 ) =
0
k
E= ẑ above slab
20

−σb a2
I
E · da =
0
−ka2
kEk(−2a2 ) =
0
k
E= ẑ below slab
20

Between the slabs the field is a sum of the two fields

k
E= − ẑ inside slab
0

It is ”-” due to the directions of the surface unit normal vectors.

5.2.2 Part (b)

The field inside the spherical hole is a superposition of the field produced by a sphere with opposite polar-
ization and the field inside of the slab

E = E -P sphere + Einside slab

The book discusses the field inside of a uniformly polarized dielectric sphere. It is − 310 P. Our equation
therefore becomes
k
E = E -P sphere − ẑ

1 k
=− P − ẑ
30 
k k
= ẑ − ẑ note −P = −kẑ
30 0
2k
= − ẑ
30

5.2.3 Part (c)

The bound surface charge on the surface of the hole is the same as that of two sphere’s with opposite
polarization superimposed
σb = σb,P + σb,-P
The bound surface charge is P · r̂
σb = P · r̂ − P · r̂
= 0