DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MADRAS

PH1020 Physics II

Tutorial 2 (29.1.2018)

1. Consider a thick metallic spherical shell with inner and outer radii a
and b, respectively, carrying a charge Q on it. A point charge q is fixed
at the center of the shell. Calculate the charge on each surface of the
shell, electric potential and field everywhere. Plot the variation of both
the electric field and potential as a function of r, the distance from the
center of the shell.
Solution: The spherical symmetry of the problem leads to uniform

𝑞 𝑎

Figure 1: Charge q is at the center of the metallic shell.

charge densities on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell. Since
the field inside a conductor should be zero, a Gaussian spherical shell
centered at O, with radius a < r < b, shows that the charge on the
inner surface should be −q and hence the surface charge density
−q
σa =
4πa2
The total charge on the shell is given to be Q and hence the charge
smeared on the outer surface is (Q + q). Hence the charge density on
the outer surface,
Q+q
σb =
4πb2

1
 Using Gaussian shells centered at the origin and of appropriate radii
we get
~ ≥ b) = (Q + q) r̂
E(r
4π0 r2
~ < r < b) = 0
E(a
~ < a) = q
E(r r̂
4π0 r2
The potential at external points (r ≥ b) is the work done in bringing a
unit positive charge from infinity upto r, which is given by,
(Q + q)
V (r ≥ b) =
4π0 r
The potential is uniform in the conducting volume of the shell and is
given by
(Q + q)
V (a < r < b) =
4π0 b
The potential for r < a has three contributions, from σa , σb , & q and is
given by  
1 Q+q q q
V (r < a) = − +
4π0 b a r

E(r)

V(r)

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

r

~ and potential V(r). a & b were taken to be 1

Figure 2: Electric field E(r)
and 2 units, respectively.

~
The surface charge densities σa and σb cause the discontinuities in E(r)
at these surfaces.

2
2. Show that the dipole moment of any arbitrary charge distribution ρ(r~0 )
depends on the choice of the origin. Determine the condition in which
the dipole moment will be independent of the origin.

Solution: Consider two coordinate systems as shown in the diagram.

~a is the relative position vector between the two origins. The dipole

𝜌(𝑟 ′ )

𝑟2 ′
O2

O1

Figure 3:

moment in coordinate system 1 is

Z Z Z
p~1 = r1 ρ(r1 )dτ1 = (r2 + ~a)ρ(r2 )dτ2 = p~2 + ~a ρ(r~20 )dτ20 = p~2 + ~aQ
~0 ~0 0 ~0 ~0 0

where Q is the total charge of the distribution.

Thus the dipole moment depends on the choice of the origin except
when the total charge of the distribution is zero.
3. A dipole p~1 is fixed at the origin and aligned along the x axis. Another
dipole p~2 is at the point B(a, a) as shown in the figure. Find the ori-
entation p~2 will take if it is free to rotate in the xoy plane at B. After
p~2 has taken its equilibrium position, it is fixed in that position and p~1
is allowed to rotate in the xoy plane at the origin. What orientation
will p~1 take? If p~2 and p~1 are both free to rotate in their places, what
orientations will they take?

Solution: The electric field at the point B due to p~1 is given by

1
E~1 = [3(p~1 · r̂)r̂ − p~1 ]
4π0 r3

3
 𝑝2
𝑦 𝐵

𝑥
𝑝1 𝑎

Figure 4:

For the point B,

1
r̂ = √ [eˆx + eˆy ]
2
p~1 = p1 eˆx
hence,  
|p~1 | 1 3
E~1 = eˆx + eˆy
4π0 r3 2 2
The dipole p~2 will align itself along E~1 to reduce its potential energy.
0
Therefore p~2 will be inclined
q  at 71.56 to the x−axis. The unit vector
along E~1 is given by 5 2 eˆx + 2 eˆy . Now
2 1 3


r  
2 1 3
p~2 = |p~2 | eˆx + eˆy
5 2 2
and its field at the origin is given by
1
E~2 = [3(p~2 · r̂)r̂ − p~2 ]
4π0 r3
where
r  
2 1 3 1
p~2 = |p~2 | eˆx + eˆy & r̂ = − √ [eˆx + eˆy ]
5 2 2 2
Thus
~2 |
r  
|p 2 5 3
E~2 = eˆx + eˆy
4π0 r3 5 2 2
Therefore p~1 will align itself inclined at 310 about x−axis. When both
the dipoles are fixed at their respective positions and are free to rotate,
then they will align parallel to OB.

4
4. Consider the following distribution of three point charges: 2q at (0, a, a);
q at (0, −a, a) and −q at (0, 0, −a).
(a) Determine the dipole moment about the origin for this distribution
and the dipole potential at P (0, 0, z), where z >> a.
(b) Calculate the dipole field at P (0, 0, z). Why is E ~ dipole (0, 0, z) 6=
−∇z Vdipole (0, 0, z)?
Solution:
i qi xi yi zi
i = 1 +2q 0 a a
It is easy to calculate the following:
i = 2 +q 0 -a a
i = 3P −q 0 0 P -a P
px = qi xi = 0; py = qi yi = qa; and pz = qi zi = 4qa
i i i
This gives p~ = px eˆx + py eˆy + pz eˆz = qa(eˆy + 4eˆz )

Thus the resultant p~ is in the yoz plane, inclined at an angle arctan( 14 )

to the z-axis. The potential at P (0, 0, z) due to this p~, for z  a, is
p~ · z eˆz pz 4aq aq
V (0, 0, z) = 3
= 2
= 2
=
4π0 z 4π0 z 4π0 z π0 z 2
The electric field at any point with position vector ~r, due to a dipole
at the origin, is given by

~ = 1
E [3(~p · r̂)r̂ − p~]
4π0 r3
For points along z-axis, ~r = z e~z , therefore
 
~ 0, z) = aq −eˆy + 8 e
ˆ z
E(0,
4π0 z3

The electric field at P (0, 0, z) is not given in this case, by

~ = − d V (0, 0, z)eˆz
E
dz
because of lack of azimuthal symmetry.

5. A line charge on the z-axis extends from z = −a to z = +a and has

linear charge density varying as

5
 
λ0 z α , when 0 < z ≤ a
λ(z) =
−λ0 |z|α , when − a ≤ z < 0
where α is a positive constant and λ0 is a positive constant of appro-
priate dimensions. Find the potential at any point (r, θ, φ) with r > a,
up to the dipole term.
Solution: The total positive charge
Z a
α aα+1
Q= λ0 z dz = λ0 .
0 α+1
Thus
Q(α + 1)
λ0 =
aα+1
The total charge is zero and hence there is no contribution from the
monopole term to the potential. The dipole potential, at the field point
(r, θ, φ), due to positive line charge is
+ 1
Vdipole (r, θ) = r̂ · p~
4π0 r2
where p~ is the dipole moment about the origin due to the positive line
charge. Z a
1 α
+
Vdipole (r, θ) = r̂ · r~0 λ0 r0 dr0
4π0 r2 0
0 0 0
(Note: z = r since θ = 0)
r̂ · r~0 = cos θ
Z a
1 α+1
+
Vdipole (r, θ) = 2
cos θ λ0 r0 dr0
4π0 r 0
1 aα+2
= cos θ.λ0 .
4π0 r2 α+2
 
Qa α+1
= cos θ
4π0 r2 α+2
In the contribution of the negative charges to the dipole term, the sign
+ −
of the charge is -ve but r̂ · r̂0 = cos(π − θ). So Vdipole = Vdipole and hence
the total potential at the field point, up to the dipole term,
 
2Qa α+1
V (r, θ, φ) = cos θ
4π0 r2 α+2