Department of physics Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Phy552/MKH 1. Jackson problem 1.1 2.

Assume that the magnitude f (r ) of electric field due to a positive unit charge is given as
f (r ) = 1 r
2

Home assignment No.1

Due date: 06-08-12

( 0 < << 1)

and it points away from it.

(a) Find the electric field inside and outside a uniformly charged thin spherical shell of radius R and carrying a total charge Q correct to first order in . Show that the field inside the shell points away from its centre. (b) Show that field near the centre of the shell varies linearly with r, (c) Plot E(r) versus r inside and outside the shell. 3. Calculate electric field and potential at distance z on the axis of a disc of radius R carrying total charge Q. Discuss the limits z << R and z >> R . 4. Calculate electric field and potential at distance on the perpendicular axis passing through the midpoint of a thin wire of length L carrying total charge Q. Discuss the limits << L and >> L .

(r ) 5. Perform direct integration in the formula for the potential (r ) = dr due to a charge r r distribution (r ) to get the potential for the following:
a. A solid sphere of radius R charged uniformly over its volume carrying total charge Q. b. An infinitely long cylindrical shell of radius R carrying charge per unit length c. An infinitely long solid cylinder of radius R carrying charge per unit length
Cavendish/Maxwell experiment: The aim of the experiment is to show that if the electrostatic force between two unit charges varies as f (r ) =

1 r
2

then is nearly zero. For this,

consider a conducting globe of radius b surrounded by a spherical conducting shell of radius a connected by a wire as shown in figure. These are charged to potential V (since the globe and the shell are connected by a wire, both are on the same potential)

6. After charging the spheres, the wire is removed and the outer shell is grounded (V=0). Using the expressions derived in class, find the potential V B of the globe now. Show if the force between unit charges varies as f (r ) =
1 r
2q

where q<<1, then this potential is given as

= VB

1 4a 2 a a+b Vq ln 2 2 ln 2 a b b a b

(Hint: For small values of q expand r 1+ q as e (1+ q ) ln r and keep terms to order q only) 7. In the experiment carried out by Maxwell the following steps were taken: a. The system was insulated and charged up to potential V with wire between the globe and the hemisphere connected. b. At the same time a solid brass ball was kept at some distance from the hemisphere and grounded. In the process the ball gets charged by induction and the amount of charge on it is about
1 of the charge on the shell. 54

c. Now the wire is disconnected and the shell is connected to the earth.

measurement of the potential on the inner globe is made by an electrometer. A null result is found. The radii a and b are such that the potential V B on the globe at this stage should be 0.1478qV . d. The shell is now disconnected from the earth and the ball is connected to the earth after that. In the process the induction charge on the shell is about
1 of the ball. 9

Now the electrometer connected to the outer shell gives a deflection D. Show that of the least count of the electrometer is d, then the magnitude of q cannot exceed 1 d . In experiments by Maxwell, D was found to be more than 300d. What 72 D

limit does it put on q? 8. Draw equipotential surfaces for the following situations: (i) two equal and opposite charges separated by distance d, (ii) two unequal opposite charges separated by distance d. (iii) a uniformly charged disc of radius R with a concentric hole of radius R/2.