Semester II, 2015-16

Department of Physics, IIT Kanpur

PHY103A: Lecture # 7
(Text Book: Intro to Electrodynamics by Griffiths, 3rd Ed.)

Anand Kumar Jha

Notes
Tutorial Section A1: ----- L13
(Sorry, but this would be the final change)
No Regular Office Hours:
Problem Solving Session:
Mondays 5-6 pm: TB-205, TB-206, TB-207
(TAs and Instructors would be around to help)
Solution # 2 is uploaded on the webpage
2

Summary of Lecture # 6:
Poissons Equation: 2 V =

The work required to create a

system of a point charge :
= QV

Total work required to put

together point charges:
=

1
( )
2

V =

=1

Energy of a continuous
charge distribution:

= V

W=

1
0
=
2
2
2

Where is the electrostatic energy stored ?

The Energy of a Continuous Charge Distribution:
1
W =
2
0
=
2
2
The first expression has a volume integral of over the localized charge
distributions whereas the second one has the volume integral of 2 over all
space.
So, where is the electrostatic energy stored? Within the charge
distribution or over all space?

Just as both the integrals are mathematically correct, both the interpretations
are also correct. The electrostatic energy can be interpreted as stored locally
within the charge distribution or globally over all space.
Again, at this point, as regarding fields, we know how to calculate different
physical quantities but we dont really know what exactly the field is.

Where is the electrostatic energy stored ?

Ex. 2.8 (Griffiths, 3rd Ed. ): Find the energy of a uniformly
charged spherical shell of total charge and radius .
shell
=

1
1
= =
2
2

2 sin
2
4
40
2

2 4 =
=

40
80
2 4 2
Alternatively:
0

shell =
2
= 0 inside and =
outside
What
is
?
40 2
2

shell

0
=
2 40 2

2 1
=
80

0
2
sin =
2 40

1
4

The two expressions for energy indeed give us the same information

Where is the electrostatic energy stored ?

Ex. 2.8 (Griffiths, 3rd Ed. ): Find the energy of a uniformly
charged solid sphere of total charge and radius .
Wsphere

0
=
2
2
=

From HW Prob 2.5(a) =

Wsphere

1
0
=
2 40

40 2

30

, outside

4 3 /3 30

40 3

, inside

2
2 3
1

4 4 2 +
4 2 =
6
40 5
0

Recall: shell

2 1
2 1
=
=
80 40 2

For the same charge and radius, a solid sphere has more total
energy than a spherical shell.

Electrostatic Boundary Conditions (Consequences of the fundamental laws):

How does electric field () change across a boundary containing surface charge ?

1. Normal components of is Discontinuous

enc
=
=
0
0

above below + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 =
0

E above E below =
0
2. Parallel components of is Discontinuous

= 0

above below + 0 + 0 = 0

E above E below = 0

(E

above

below

+ (E
)

above

)
below
0

above below =

Electrostatic Boundary Conditions (Consequences of the fundamental laws):

How does electric potential (V) change across a boundary containing surface charge ?
3. Potential is continuous across a boundary

V V() =

Vabove Vbelow =

For 0,

= 0

Vabove Vbelow = 0
8

Uniformly charged spherical shell

Ex. 2.6 (Griffiths, 3rd Ed. ): Find the electric field and electric potential inside and
outside a uniformly charged sphere of radius and total charge .
1
The electric field outside the shell:() =
r
40 r2
The electric field inside the shell: 0

The electric potential at a point outside the shell (r > ):

1
1

V = =
=
40 r2
40 r

The electric potential for a point inside the shell (r < ):

V = =

1
1
0=

40 r2
40 R

Check the boundary condition on Electric field at r =

E above E below =

E
=
E above 0 =
above
40 2
0 42
0

OK

Check the boundary condition on Electric potential

Vabove Vbelow = 0

1
1

=0
40 R 40 R

OK

Conductors (Materials containing unlimited supply of electrons)

(1) The electric field = 0 inside a conductor, even when the conductor is placed
in an external electric field .

(2) The charge density = 0 inside a conductor. This is because = 0 inside a

conductor and therefore = 0 = 0.
(3) Any net charge resides on the surface. Why? To minimize the energy.
Wsphere

2 3
=
40 5

>

shell

2 1
=
40 2

(4) A conductor is an equipotential. This is because = 0 and therefore for any

two points and , V V = = 0, which means V = V .

(5) is perpendicular to the surface, just outside the conductor.

10

Induced Charges

No charge inside the cavity

Charge inside the cavity

No charge inside the cavity,

Conductor in an external field
11

Induced Charges
Prob. 2.36 (Griffiths, 3rd Ed. ):

- Surface charge ? =
42

- Surface charge ? =
4 2
+
- Surface charge ? =
42
1

=
- ( ) ? out 4 2
0
1

=
- ( ) ? out 4 2
0
- out () ? out

1 +
=

40 2

- Force on ?

- Force on ?

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Induced Charges
Prob. 2.36 (Griffiths, 3rd Ed. ):

- Surface charge ? =
42

- Surface charge ? =
4 2
+
- Surface charge ? =
42
1

=
- ( ) ? out 4 2
0
1

=
- ( ) ? out 4 2
0
- out () ? out

- Force on ?

- Force on ?

Same
Same
Changes
Same
Same

1 + Changes
=

40 2
0

Same

Same

Bring in a third
charge

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