Student name ...........................

EM 201 MST Semester 1 2009

Student number..........................

Curtin University of Technology

Division of Engineering, Science and Computing
Department of Electrical Engineering

Electromagnetic Engineering 201

Semester 1 2009 Mid Semester Test

Time allowed 90 minutes Closed Book Formula sheet provided
+10 minutes reading time

Put your name and students number at the top of this question paper,
Answer booklets will NOT be accepted unless the question paper is also handed in.

CHOOSE THREE QUESTIONS ONLY TO ANSWER

Question 1
A vector is defined by A = ˆr10 cos φ − φ
ˆ 10 sin φ
a) Show that this vector is perpendicular to the y axis.
b) Find ∫ A • dl over the entire closed contour L shown, where dl is the element of the
L
line whose contour forms L. The segment from (2,0) to (0,2) is part of a circle.
y

L
x
2

c) The gradient of a scalar function T is given by ∇T = ˆze−2 z

At z=0 the value of T=10. Find T(z).

Solutions:
a) Vector A is given by A = ˆr10 cos φ − φˆ 10 sin φ in cylindrical coordinates.
From the table provided, A in cartesian coordinates is:

ˆ ( Ar cos φ − Aφ sin φ ) + ˆy(Ar sin φ + Aφ cos φ )

A=x
( )
ˆ 10 cos 2 φ + 10 sin 2 φ + ˆy(10 cos φ sin φ − 10 sin φ cos φ )
=x
=x
ˆ 10
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 Student name ...........................
EM 201 MST Semester 1 2009
Student number..........................

Thus the vector must be perpendicular to the y axis at all points. More formally:
A • yˆ
A • yˆ = A(1) cos α ⇒ α = cos −1
A
xˆ 10 • yˆ
where α is the angle between A and the y axis. So α = cos −1 = 0 = 90°
A

b) Using cylindrical coordinates, the differential length for these two dimensions is
ˆ r dφ
dl = rˆ dr + φ
π
2 0

∫ A • dl = ∫ A • (rˆ dr + φˆ r dφ ) = ∫ A • (rˆ dr ) + ∫ A • (φˆ r dφ ) + ∫ A • (rˆ dr )

2

L L 0 0 2
π
2 2 0
= ∫ ˆr 10 cos φ • ˆr dr − ∫ φ
ˆ 10 sin φ • φ
ˆ r dφ + ˆr 10 cos φ • ˆr dr
∫
0 0 2
π
2 2 0
= ∫ 10 cos φ dr − ∫ 10 sin φ r dφ + ∫ 10 cos φ dr
0 0 2
π π
= 10 sin φ r + 10r cos φ + 10 sin φ r
2
0
2
0
0
2 = 10 sin φ r + 10r cos φ 02 − 10 sin φ r
2
0
2
0
π
= 10r cos φ 02 = 10r (0 − 1) = −20

c)
∇T = ˆze−2 z
∂T ∂T ∂T ∂T
∇T = x ˆ +yˆ + ˆz = ˆze − 2 z ⇒ = e −2 z
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂z
∂T dT
∴ = = e − 2 z ⇒ dT = e − 2 z dz ⇒ T = ∫ e − 2 z dz
∂z dz
e−2 z
Integrating T = ∫ e− 2 z dz = − +C
2
Where C is a constant of integration that can be evaluated from given conditions:
e −0 1 1
when z=0 we are given that T=10 , then 10 = − + C = − + C ⇒ C = 10 +
2 2 2
−2 z −2 z
e 1 1− e
Hence T =− + 10 + ⇒ T = 10 +
2 2 2

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 Student name ...........................
EM 201 MST Semester 1 2009
Student number..........................

Question 2

a) Write down (without proof) Gauss’s Law in integral form using the usual notation.

b) Positive electric charge is distributed uniformly throughout the volume of a non

conducting sphere with radius a. The charge per unit volume is ρv .
i. Explain why the magnitude of the electric field density D is exactly zero at the
centre of the sphere.
ii. Show that the magnitude DR of the D field at a point distance R from the centre
of the sphere, is
R
1. DR = ρ v for R < a,
3
a3
2. DR = 2 ρv for R > a.
3R
You may state, without proof, well-known results for areas, volumes etc.

Solutions
a) ∫ D • ds = Q
S
enclosed

b) Because the uniform distribution of charge has spherical symmetry, any spherical
surface constructed inside or outside the sphere is a gaussian surface.
1) For R = 0 at the centre of the sphere, all the contributions of electric field
due to the uniformly distributed charge coming radially from every direction
cancel out yielding a zero magnitude D field.
2) For 0 < R ≤ a and uniform charge distribution, the total charge enclosed by
a spherical surface of radius R inside the sphere is
Qenc = ∫ ρ v dv = ρ v ∫ dv =ρ v v
v v

where v is the volume of the sphere of radius R. This volume is a well known
4
result: v= π R 3 . Thus for 0 < R ≤ r using Gauss’s Law
3
4
∫S D • ds = Qenc = ρv 3 π R (eqn 1)
3

Since the magnitude of DR is constant for any value of R, and D and ds are in
the same direction, R̂ :
∫ ∫
D • ds = Rˆ D • Rˆ ds = D ds =D A
S
R R ∫
s
R

where A is the surface area of the sphere of radius R. This area is a well
known result: A= 4π R 2

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 Student name ...........................
EM 201 MST Semester 1 2009
Student number..........................

4 R
thus ∫ D • ds = DR 4π R 2 = Qenc = ρ v π R 3 ⇒ DR = ρv
S
3 3
for 0 < R ≤ a
Hence, the magnitude of the D field inside the sphere increases linearly with R,
from zero at R=0, until the surface of the sphere is reached.

3) For R ≥ a the gaussian surface is outside the sphere of radius a and encloses
it. This imaginary surface thus encloses the whole charge Qenc contained
inside the sphere.

From eqn 1 above, the total charge enclosed in the sphere of radius a is:
4 3
∫S D • ds = Qenc = ∫vρ v dv = ρ v 3 π a
From symmetry, the magnitude of D is constant for any value of R > a, and D
and ds are in the same direction, R̂ , thus also for R ≥ a:
∫ D • ds = DR ∫ ds =DR A
S s

where A= 4π R is the surface area of the imaginary sphere of radius R. Thus

2

4 a3
∫S D • ds = DR 4π R = Qenc = ρ v 3 π a ⇒ DR = 3R 2 ρ v for R ≥ a
2 3

Hence, the magnitude of the D field outside the sphere decreases with the
square of R. (This is just Coulomb’s Law!)

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 Student name ...........................
EM 201 MST Semester 1 2009
Student number..........................

Question 3

a) Write down (without proof) the equation relating VAB, the voltage potential difference
between two points A and B, the vector dl describing the path between the points, and
the E field containing the two points.

q
b) The E field at a point P, distance R from a charge q, is given by E = R
ˆ in air,
4πε 0 R 2

q
Show that the equation for the absolute potential at P is V =
4πε 0 R

c) A thin circular disk of radius 2m lies in the r-φ plane of a cylindrical coordinate
system. It carries a total charge of 40nC uniformly distributed across its surface.
i. Find the surface charge density.
ii. Calculate the absolute potential due to this charge density, at a point on the z axis
2m in air from the disk.

x dx
You may assume the integral ∫ x +k
2
= x 2 + k where x is any variable.

Solutions
b
a) Vab = Va − Vb = − ∫ E • dl
a

b) The absolute potential is defined as the potential at P, (which in spherical coordinates

is at radius R ), when a is at infinity:
b P R q
Vab = Va − Vb = − ∫ E • dl ⇒ Vabs = − ∫ E • dl = − ∫ Rˆ • dl
a ∞ ∞ 4πε 0 R 2

R q R q
dl = R
ˆ dR ∴ Vabs = − ∫ Rˆ •R
ˆ dR = −
∫ dR
∞ 4πε 0 R 2 ∞ 4πε 0 R 2

∴ Vabs = − ∫
∞
R q
4πε 0 R 2
dR = −
q
−
4πε 0 R
1
[ ] R

∞
=
q 1 1
 − =
q
4πε 0  R ∞  4πε 0 R

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 Student name ...........................
EM 201 MST Semester 1 2009
Student number..........................

c)

i. Since the charge is uniformly distributed across the surface of a circular disk and
the area is simply πr2, where r is 2 metres.

q 40 × 10−9 10 × 10−9
ρs = = = C/m2
πr 2
4π π
dq
ii. At (0,0,2) dV = where dq = ρ s ds ds = r dφ dr
4πε 0 R

And by Pythagoras R = r 2 + 4

dq ρ s ds ρ s rdrdφ ρs r
V =∫ =∫ drdφ
4πε 0 ∫s R ∫
Then = =
s 4πε 0 R s 4πε 0 R 4πε 0 s r2 + 4

ρ s 2π ρs
[ ] ρ s 2π
( )
2

[φ ]0
r 2π 2
V= ∫ d φ ∫ dr = r 2 +4 = 4+4 − 0+4
4πε 0 φ = 0 r = 0 r 2 + 4 4πε 0 0
4πε 0
ρ s 2π
( ) ρs −9
V= 2 2 −1 = (0.414) = 10 × 10 × 0.414 = 148.84 Volts
4πε 0 ε0 π × 8.854 × 10−12

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 Student name ...........................
EM 201 MST Semester 1 2009
Student number..........................

Question 4
The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor of area A (m2), and plate separation d (m), filled
with a material of permittivity ε (F/m) is given by

ε A
C= Farads
d
A parallel plate capacitor with plates 1cm apart has an air dielectric and a potential of 29kV is
applied across it. Later, with this voltage still applied, a thin piece of glass with ε r = 6.5 and
thickness 0.2 cm is inserted as shown in the diagram.

Air , ε 0 V1 1 cm
V

Glass , εr V2 0.2 cm

(a) If no charge is lost during the insertion process, show that the potential across the air
part of the dielectric is now:

C2
V1 = (V1 + V2 )
C1 + C 2

where C1 and C2 are the capacitances of the air and glass parts respectively, and V1
and V2 are the voltages across the same parts.
(b) Calculate the value of V1 and hence find the potential across the glass dielectric, V2.
(c) Find the magnitudes of the corresponding electric field strengths, E1 and E2, across
each material.
(d) The dielectric strength of glass is 290 kV/cm, and of air is 30 kV/cm. Will either of
the materials suffer dielectric breakdown in the new configuration?

Solution:

(a) When the glass is inserted, the problem is effectively of two capacitors in series. Since
the charge remains the same during the insertion process:

Q = CV = C1V1 = C 2V2

Initially V1+V2 = V and hence V2 = V- V1

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 Student name ...........................
EM 201 MST Semester 1 2009
Student number..........................

C1V1 = C 2 (V − V1 ) ⇒ C1V1 + C 2V1 = C 2V

and  C2   C2  as required.
V1 =  V =  (V1 + V2 )
C
 1 + C 2  C
 1 + C 2 

(b) Given that

ε A
C=
d
ε0 A ε rε 0 A
C1 = −3
= 125ε 0 A and C2 = = 3250ε 0 A Farads
8 × 10 2 × 10 −3

 C2  3250ε 0 A
∴V1 =  V = × 29 = 27.926 kV
 C1 + C2  (125 + 3250)ε 0 A
and so V2 = V- V1 = 29 – 27.926 = 1.074 kV

(c) and (d) Since the E field and the displacement d are in the same direction, the
magnitude of the electric field intensity for the air dielectric (labelled 1) is now

V 27.926 × 10 3
E1 = = = 34.9 kV/cm
d 0.8 cm
This is greater than the dielectric strength of air given as 30 kV/cm, so the air will ionise
and break down passing a large current.

The same calculation for the glass (labelled 2) gives

V 1.0741 × 103
E2 = = = 5.37 kV/cm
d 0.2 cm
This substantially less than the dielectric strength of the glass (290 kV/cm) so the glass will
not break down.

END OF MID SEMESTER TEST

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