DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

PHYS3386

Tutorial: Electrostatics

1. Find the density of free electrons in Al given that its conductivity is 3.5 107 S/m and its
electron mobility is 0.0014 m2/Vs. [Solution: Ne = 1.46 1029 electrons/m3]

2. The current flowing through a 100-m long conducting wire of uniform cross section has a
density of 3 105 A/m2. Find the voltage drop along the length of the wire if the wire
material has a conductivity of 2 107 S/m.
[Solution: V = 1.5 V]

3. A 50-m long copper wire has a circular cross section with radius of r = 2 cm. The
conductivity of copper is 5.8 107 S/m. Find
(a) The resistance R of the wire [Solution: R = 6.9 10-4 ]
(b) The power dissipated in the wire if the voltage across its length is 1.5 mV.
[Solution: P = 3.3 mW]

4. For the following figure, find E1 if E2 = 2 3 + 3 V/m, where 1 = 20, 2 = 80, and

the boundary is charge free. [Solution: E1 = + V/m]

5. Repeat Q4 for a boundary with a surface charge density of s = 3.54 10-11 C/m2.

[Solution: E1 = + V/m]