Solutions to Problems in Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics, Third Edition Homer Reid June 15, 2000 Chapter 3: Problems 1-10 Problem 3.1 Two concentric spheres have radii a, b(b > a) and each is divided into two hemispheres by the same horizontal plane. The upper hemisphere of the inner sphere and the lower hemisphere of the outer sphere are maintained at potential V . The other hemispheres are at zero potential. Detemine the potential in the region a ≤ r ≤ b as a series in Legendre polynomials. Include terms at least up to l = 4. Check your solution against known results in the limiting cases b → ∞ and a → 0. The expansion of the electrostatic potential in spherical coordinates for problems with azimuthal symmetry is Φ(r, θ) = ∞ h X l=0 i Al rl + Bl r−(l+1) Pl (cos θ). (1) We find the coefficients Al and Bl by applying the boundary conditions. Multiplying both sides by Pl0 (cos θ) and integrating from -1 to 1 gives Z 1 i 2 h Al rl + Bl r−(l+1) . Φ(r, θ)Pl (cos θ)d(cos θ) = 2l + 1 −1 At r = a this yields V Z 1 Pl (x)dx = 0 i 2 h Al al + Bl a−(l+1) , 2l + 1 1 2 Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 and at r = b, V Z 0 Pl (x)dx = −1 i 2 h l Al b + Bl b−(l+1) . 2l + 1 The integral from 0 to 1 vanishes for l even, and is given in the text for l odd: Z 1 (l − 2)!! 1 Pl (x)dx = (− )(l−1)/2 l+1 . 2 2 2 ! 0 The integral from -1 to 0 also vanishes for l even, and is just the above result inverted for l odd. This gives i 2 h 1 (l − 2)!! Al al + Bl a−(l+1) V (− )(l−1)/2 l+1 = 2 2l + 1 2 2 ! i (l − 2)!! 2 h l 1 −V (− )(l−1)/2 l+1 = Al b + Bl b−(l+1) . 2 2l + 1 2 2 ! or αl −αl with 1 (2l + 1)(l − 2)!! αl = V (− )a(l−1)/2 . 2 4 l+1 2 ! The solution is Al = α l = Al al + Bl a−(l+1) = Al bl + Bl b−(l+1) bl+1 + al+1 a2l+1 − b2l+1 Bl = −αl al+1 bl+1 (bl + al ) a2l+1 − b2l+1 The first few terms of (1) are 2 (a + b2 )r a2 b2 (a + b) a4 b4 (a3 + b3 ) 3 7 (a4 + b4 )r3 − 2 3 − 4 7 Φ(r, θ) = V P1 (cos θ)− P3 (cos θ)+· · · 4 a3 − b 3 r (a − b3 ) 16 a7 − b 7 r (a − b7 ) In the limit as b → ∞, the problem reduces to the exterior problem treated in Section 2.7 of the text. In that limit, the above expression becomes 7 a 4 3 a 2 P1 (cos θ) − V P3 (cos θ) + · · · Φ(r, θ) → V 4 r 16 r in agreement with (2.27) with half the potential spacing. When a → 0, the problem goes over to the interior version of the same problem, as treated in section 3.3 of the text. In that limit the above expression goes to 3 r 7 r 3 Φ(r, θ) → − V P1 (cos θ) + V P3 (cos θ) + · · · 4 b 16 b This agrees with equation (3.36) in the text, with the sign of V flipped, because here the more positive potential is on the lower hemisphere. Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 3 Problem 3.2 A spherical surface of radius R has charge uniformly distributed over its surface with a density Q/4πR2 , except for a spherical cap at the north pole, defined by the cone θ = α. (a) Show that the potential inside the spherical surface can be expressed as Φ= ∞ rl Q X 1 [Pl+1 (cos α) − Pl−1 (cos α)] l+1 Pl (cos θ) 8π0 2l + 1 R l=0 where, for l = 0, Pl−1 (cos α) = −1. What is the potential outside? (b) Find the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the origin. (c) Discuss the limiting forms of the potential (part a) and electric field (part b) as the spherical cap becomes (1)very small, and (2) so large that the area with charge on it becomes a very small cap at the south pole. (a) Let’s denote the charge density on the sphere by σ(θ). At a point infinitesimally close to the surface of the sphere, the electric field is F = −∇Φ = − so σ r̂ 0 σ ∂Φ = . ∂r r=R 0 (2) The expression for the potential within the sphere must be finite at the origin, so the Bl in (1) are zero. Differentiating that expansion, (2) becomes ∞ X ∂ Φ(r, θ) = lAl rl−1 Pl (cos θ) ∂r l=1 Multiplying by Pl0 and integrating at r = R gives Z 1 1 2l σ(θ)Pl (cos θ)d(cos θ) = Al Rl−1 0 −1 2l + 1 so 2l + 1 Al = · 2lRl−1 Q 4πR2 0 Z cos α Pl (x)dx. −1 To evaluate the integral we use the identity (eq. 3.28 in the text) Pl (x) = d 1 [Pl+1 (x) − Pl−1 (x)] (2l + 1) dx Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 so Z cos α Pl (x)dx = −1 4 1 [Pl+1 (cos α) − Pl−1 (cos α)] . 2l + 1 (We used the fact that Pl+1 (−1) = Pl−1 (−1) for all l.) With this we have Al = Q [Pl+1 (cos α) − Pl−1 (cos α)] 8π0 lRl+1 so the potential expansion is Φ(r, θ) = ∞ Q X1 rl [Pl+1 (cos α) − Pl−1 (cos α)] l+1 Pl (cos θ). 8π0 l R l=1 Within the body of the sum, I have an l where Jackson has a 2l + 1. Also, he includes the l = 0 term in the sum, corresponding to a constant term in the potential. I don’t understand how he can determine that constant from the information contained in the problem; the information about the charge density only tells you the derivative of the potential. There’s nothing in this problem that fixes the value of the potential on the surface beyond an arbitrary constant. (b) The field at the origin comes from the l = 1 term in the potential: ∂Φ 1 ∂Φ E(r = 0) = −∇Φ|r=0 = − r̂ + θ̂ ∂r r ∂θ r=0 d Q [P (cos α) − 1] P (cos θ)r̂ + P (cos θ) θ̂ = − 2 1 1 8π0 R2 dθ h i Q 3 3 = − cos θr̂ − sin θ θ̂ cos2 α − 2 8π0 R 2 2 = 3Q sin2 α k̂. 16π0 R2 The field points in the positive z direction. That makes sense, since a positive test charge at the origin would sooner fly up out through the uncharged cap than through any of the charged surface. 5 Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 Problem 3.3 A thin, flat, conducting, circular disk of radius R is located in the x − y plane with its center at the origin, and is maintained at a fixed potential V . With the information that the charge density on a disc at fixed potential is proportional to (R2 − ρ2 )−1/2 , where ρ is the distance out from the center of the disc, (a) show that for r > R the potential is ∞ 2V R X (−1)l Φ(r, θ, φ) = π r 2l + 1 l=0 R 2l r ! P2l (cos θ) (b) find the potential for r < R. (c) What is the capacitance of the disk? We are told that the surface charge density on the disk goes like σ(r) = K(R2 − r2 )−1/2 1 r 2 K 3 · 1 r 4 5 · 3 · 1 r 6 1+ = + + +··· R 2 R (2!)(2 · 2) R (3!)(2 · 2 · 2) R ∞ K X (2n − 1)!! r 2n (3) = R n=0 n! · 2n R for some constant K. From the way the problem is worded, I take it we’re not supposed to try to figure out what K is explicitly, but rather to work the problem knowing only the form of (3). At a point infinitesimally close to the surface of the disk (i.e., as θ → π/2), the component of ∇Φ in the direction normal to the surface of the disk must be proportional to the surface charge. At the surface of the disk, the normal direction is the negative θ̂ direction. Hence σ 1 ∂ =± . Φ(r, θ) (4) r ∂θ 0 θ=(π/2) with the plus (minus) sign valid for Φ above (below) the disc. For r < R the potential expansion is Φ(r, θ) = ∞ X Al rl Pl (cos θ). (5) l=0 Combining (3), (4), and (5) we have ∞ ∞ X K X (2n − 1)!! r 2n d =± Al rl−1 Pl (cos θ) . dθ R0 n=0 n! · 2n R cos θ=0 l=0 (6) Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 6 For l even, dPl /dx vanishes at x = 0. For l odd, I used some of the Legendre polynomial identities to derive the formula (2l − 1)!! d P2l+1 (x) . = (−1)l (2l + 1) dx l! · 2l x=0 This formula reminds one strongly of expansion (3). Plugging into (6) and equating coefficents of powers of r, we find A2l+1 = ± so Φ(r, θ) = A0 ± (−1)l K (2l + 1)R2l+1 0 ∞ K X (−1)l r 2l+1 P2l+1 (cos θ). 0 2l + 1 R l=1 I wrote A0 explicitly because we haven’t evaluated it yet–the derivative condition we used earlier gave no information about it. To find A0 , observe that, on the surface of the disk (cos θ = 0), all the terms in the above sum vanish ( because Pl (0) is 0 for odd l) so Φ = A0 on the disk. But Φ = V on the disk. Therefore, A0 = V . We have Φ(r, θ) = V ± ∞ K X (−1)l r 2l+1 P2l+1 (cos θ) 0 2l + 1 R (7) l=1 where the plus (minus) sign is good for θ less than (greater than)π/2. Note that the presence of that ± sign preserves symmetry under reflection through the z axis, a symmetry that is clearly present in the physical problem. (a) For r > R, there is no charge. Thus the potential and its derivative must be continuous everywhere–we can’t have anything like the derivative discontinuity that exists at θ = π/2 for r < R. Since the physical problem is symmetric under a sign flip in cos θ, the potential expansion can only contain Pl terms for l even. The expansion is Φ(r, θ) = ∞ X B2l r−(2l+1) P2l (cos θ). l=0 At r = R, this must match up with (7): V ± ∞ ∞ X K X (−1)l P2l+1 (cos θ) = B2l R−(2l+1) P2l (cos θ). 0 2l + 1 l=1 l=0 Multiplying both sides by P2l (cos θ) sin(θ) and integrating gives Z 0 Z 1 Z 1 ∞ K X (−1)l 2R−(2l+1) P2l+1 (x)Pl (x)dx Pl (x)dx + P2l+1 (x)P2l (x)dx + B2l = V − 4l + 1 0 2l + 1 0 −1 −1 l=1 Z ∞ 2K X (−1)l 1 = 2V δl,0 + P2l+1 (x)P2l (x)dx. 0 2l + 1 0 l=1 Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 7 but I can’t do this last integral. Problem 3.4 The surface of a hollow conducting sphere of inner radius a is divided into an even number of equal segments by a set of planes; their common line of intersection is the z axis and they are distributed uniformly in the angle φ. (The segments are like the skin on wedges of an apple, or the earth’s surface between successive meridians of longitude.) The segments are kept at fixed potentials ±V , alternately. (a) Set up a series representation for the potential inside the sphere for the general case of 2n segments, and carry the calculation of the coefficients in the series far enough to determine exactly which coefficients are different from zero. For the nonvanishing terms exhibit the coefficients as an integral over cos θ. (b) For the special case of n = 1 (two hemispheres) determine explicitly the potential up to and including all terms with l = 3. By a coordinate transformation verify that this reduces to result (3.36) of Section 3.3. (a) The general potential expansion is Φ(r, θ, φ) = ∞ X l h X l=0 m=−l i Alm rl + Blm r−(l+1) Ylm (θ, φ). (8) For the solution within the sphere, finiteness at the origin requires Blm = 0. ∗ Multiplying by Yl0m0 and integrating over the surface of the sphere we find Z 1 ∗ Alm = Φ(a, θ, φ) Ylm (θ, φ) dΩ al Z Z n π 2kπ/n V X ∗ k Ylm (θ, φ) sin θ dφ dθ = (−1) al 0 2(k−1)π/n k=1 (Z ) 1/2 Z 1 X n 2kπ/n V 2l + 1 (l − m)! k −imφ m = Pl (x) dx (−1) e dφ . al 4π (l + m)! −1 2(k−1)π/n k=1 (9) The φ integral is easy: Z 2kπ/n i 1 h −2imkπ/n e − e−2im(k−1)π/n . e−imφ dφ = − im 2(k−1)π/n This is to be summed from k = 1 to n with a factor of (−1)k thrown in: i X 1 h −2mπi(1/n) = − (e − 1) − (e−2mπi(2/n) − e−2mπi(1/n) ) + · · · − (1 − e−2mπi((n−1)/n) ) im o 2 n = 1 − e−2mπi/n + e2(−2mπi/n) − e3(−2mπi/n) + · · · + e(n−1)(−2mπi/n) . (10) im Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 8 Putting x = − exp(−2mπi/n), the thing in braces is 1 + x + x2 + x3 + · · · + xn−1 = 1 − xn 1 − e−2mπi = , 1−x 1 + e−2imπ/n Note that the numerator vanishes. Thus the only way this thing can be nonzero is if the denominator also vanishes, which only happens if the exponent in the denominator equates to -1. This only happens if m/n = 1/2, 3/2, 5/2, · · · . In that case, the 2mπi/n term in the exponent of the terms in (10) equates to πi, so all the terms with a plus sign in (10) come out to +1, while all the terms with a minus sign come out to -1, so all n terms add constructively, and (10) equates to ( 2n X , m = n/2, 3n/2, 5n/2, · · · = im 0, otherwise. Then the expression (9) for the coefficients becomes Alm 1/2 Z 1 2nV 2l + 1 (l − m)! = Plm (x)dx, imal 4π (l + m)! −1 m= n 3n , , · · · = 0, otherwise. 2 2 (b) As shown above, the only terms that contribute are those with m = n/2, m = 3n/2, et cetera. Of course there is also the constraint that m < l. Then, with n = 2, up to l = 3 the only nonzero terms in the series (9) are those with l = 1, m = ±1, and l = 3, m = ±1 or ±3. We need to evaluate the θ integral for these terms. We have Z 1 Z 1 1 P1 (x) dx = − (1 − x2 )1/2 dx = −π Z Z −1 1 −1 1 −1 P31 (x) dx P33 (x) dx = − Z −1 1 (1 − x2 )1/2 −1 = −15 Z 1 3π 15 2 3 dx = − x − 2 2 8 (1 − x2 )3/2 dx = − −1 15π . 4 Using these results in (??), we have A1±1 A3±1 A3±3 1/2 3 4πV i a 4π · 2 1/2 3πV i 7 · 2 = ± 2a3 4π · 4! 1/2 5πV i 7 = ± 3 a 4π · 6! = ± Now we can plug these coefficients into (8) to piece together the solution. This involves some arithmetic in combining all the numerical factors in each 9 Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 coefficient, which I have skipped here. h r 7 r 3 sin θ(5 cos2 θ − 1) sin φ sin θ sin φ + Φ(r, θ, φ) = V 3 a 16 a 7 r 3 3 + sin θ sin 3φ + · · · 144 a Problem 3.6 Two point charges q and −q are located on the z azis at z = +a and z = −a, respectively. (a) Find the electrostatic potential as an expansion in spherical harmonics and powers of r for both r > a and r < a. (b) Keeping the product qa = p/2 constant, take the limit of a → 0 and find the potential for r 6= 0. This is by definition a dipole along the z azis and its potential. (c) Suppose now that the dipole of part b is surrounded by a grounded spherical shell of radius b concentric with the origin. By linear superposition find the potential everwhere inside the shell. (a) First of all, for a point on the z axis the potential is 1 q 1 Φ(z) = − 4π0 |z − a| z + a a a 2 a a 2 q +··· − 1− ··· = 1+ + + 4π0 z z z z z q a a 3 = + +··· 2π0 z z z P for z > a. Comparing this with the general expansion Φ = Bl r−(l+1) Pl (cos θ) at θ = 0 we can identify the Bl s and write a 3 a q P3 (cos θ) + · · · P1 (cos θ) + Φ(r, θ) = 2π0 r r r for r > a. For r < a we can just swap a and r in this equation. (b) Φ(r, θ) = = → qa 2π0 r2 p 4π0 r2 p 4π0 r2 P1 (cos θ) + P1 (cos θ) + cos θ a 2 r a 2 r as a → 0. P3 (cos θ) + · · · P3 (cos θ) + · · · Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 10 (c) When we put the grounded sphere around the two charges, a surface charge distribution forms on the sphere. Let’s denote by Φs the potential due to this charge distribution alone (not including the potential of the dipole) and by Φd the potential due to the dipole. To calculate Φs , we pretend there are no charges within the sphere, in which case we have the general expansion (1), with Bl = 0 to keep us finite at the origin. The total potential is just the sum Φs + Φd : ∞ Φ(r, θ) = X p cos θ + Al rl Pl (cos θ). 2 4π0 r l=0 The condition that this vanish at r = b ensures, by the orthogonality of the Pl , that only the l = 1 term in the sum contribute, and that p . A1 = − 4π0 b3 The total potential inside the sphere is then r p P1 (cos θ). 1 − Φ(r, θ) = 4π0 b2 b Problem 3.7 Three point charges (q, −2q, q) are located in a straight line with separation a and with the middle charge (−2q) at the origin of a grounded conducting spherical shell of radius b, as indicated in the figure. (a) Write down the potential of the three charges in the absence of the grounded sphere. Find the limiting form of the potential as a → 0, but the product qa2 = Q remains finite. Write this latter answer in spherical coordinates. (b) The presence of the grounded sphere of radius b alters the potential for r < b. The added potential can be viewed as caused by the surface-charge density induced on the inner surface at r = b or by image charges located at r > b. Use linear superposition to satisfy the boundary conditions and find the potential everywhere inside the sphere for r < a and r > a. Show that in the limit a → 0, Q r5 Φ(r, θ, φ) → 1 − 5 P2 (cos θ). 2π0 r3 b (a) On the z axis, the potential is q 2 1 1 Φ(z) = − + + 4π0 z |z − a| z + a a a 2 a a 2 q ··· + 1− +··· = −2 + 1 + + + 4π0 r z z z z q a 2 a 4 = + +··· . 2π0 z z z Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 11 As before, from this result we can immediately infer the expression for the potential at all points: a 4 a 2 q P2 (cos θ) + P4 (cos θ) + · · · Φ(r, θ) = 2π0 r r r 2 2 qa a = P (cos θ) + · · · P (cos θ) + 4 2 2π0 r3 r Q → P2 (cos θ) as a → 0 (11) 2π0 r3 (b) As in the previous problem, the surface charges on the sphere produce an extra contribution Φs to the potential within the sphere. Again we can express Φs with the expansion (1) (with Bl = 0), and we add Φs to (11) to get the full potential within the sphere: ∞ Φ(r, θ) = X Q P2 (cos θ) + Al rl Pl (cos θ) 3 2π0 r l=0 From the condition that Φ vanish at r = b, we determine that only the l = 2 term in the sum contributes, and that A2 = − Q . 2π0 b5 Then the potential within the sphere is r 5 Q Φ(r, θ) = 1 − P2 (cos θ). 2π0 r3 b Problem 3.9 A hollow right circular cylinder of radius b has its axis coincident with the z axis and its ends at z = 0 and z = L. The potential on the end faces is zero, while the potential on the cylindrical surface is given as V (φ, z). Using the appropriate separation of variables in cylindrical coordinates, find a series solution for the potential anywhere inside the cylinder. The general solution of the Laplace equation for problems in cylindrical coordinates consists of a sum of terms of the form R(ρ)Q(φ)Z(z). The φ function is of the form Q(φ) = A sin νφ + B cos νφ Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 12 with ν an integer. The z function is of the form Z(z) = Cekz + De−kz . In this case, Z must vanish at z = 0 and z = L, which means we have to take k imaginary, i.e. πn , n = 1, 2, 3, · · · Z(z) = C sin(kn z) with kn = L With this form for Z, R must be taken to be of the form R(ρ) = EIν (kn ρ) + F Kν (kn ρ). Since we’re looking for the potential on the inside of the cylinder and there is no charge at the origin, the solution must be finite as ρ → 0, which requires F = 0. Then the potential expansion becomes Φ(ρ, φ, z) = ∞ X ∞ X [Anν sin νφ + Bnν cos νφ] sin(kn z)Iν (kn ρ). (12) n=1 ν=0 Multiplying by sin ν 0 φ sin kn0 z and integrating at r = b, we find Z L Z 2π πL Iν (kn b)Anν V (φ, z) sin νφ sin(kn z) dφ dz = 2 0 0 so Z L Z 2π 2 Anν = V (φ, z) sin(νφ) sin(kn z) dφ dz. πLIν (kn b) 0 0 Similarly, Z L Z 2π 2 Bnν = V (φ, z) cos(νφ) sin(kn z) dφ dz. πLIν (kn b) 0 0 (13) (14) Problem 3.10 For the cylinder in Problem 3.9 the cylindrical surface is made of two equal halfcylinders, one at potential V and the other at potential −V , so that V for −π/2 < φ < π/2 V (φ, z) = −V for π/2 < φ < 3π/2 (a) Find the potential inside the cylinder. (b) Assuming L >> b, consider the potential at z = L/2 as a function of ρ and φ and compare it with two-dimensional Problem 2.13. The potential expansion is (12) with coefficients given by (13) and (14). The relevant integrals are Z L Z 2π V (φ, z) sin(νφ) sin(kn z) dφ dz 0 0 13 Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 = V = 0 (Z L sin(kn z) dz 0 Z = V = = (Z L 0 Z ) (Z π/2 sin(νφ) dφ − −π/2 Z 3π/2 sin(νφ) dφ π/2 ) 2π V (φ, z) cos(νφ) sin(kn z) dφ dz 0 L sin(kn z) dz 0 ) (Z π/2 cos(νφ) dφ − −π/2 Z 3π/2 cos(νφ) dφ π/2 ) o 2V n π/2 3π/2 (n odd) |sin νφ|−π/2 − |sin νφ|π/2 νkn 0 , n or ν even 8V /kn ν , n odd, ν = 1, 5, 9, · · · −8V /kn ν , n odd, ν = 3, 7, 11, · · · Hence, from (13) and (14), Anν Bnν = 0 = 0, = (−1)(ν−1)/2 · 16V /(nνπ 2 Iν (kn b)), n or ν even n and ν odd The potential expansion is Φ(ρ, θ, z) = 16V X (−1)(ν−1)/2 cos(νφ) sin(kn z)Iν (kn ρ) π 2 n,ν nνIv (kn b) (15) where the sum contains only terms with n and ν odd. (b) At z = L/2 we have Φ(ρ, θ, L/2) = Iν (kn ρ) 16V X (−1)(n+ν−2)/2 cos(νφ) . 2 π n,ν nν Iν (kn b) As L → ∞, the arguments to the I functions become small. Using the limiting form for Iν quoted in the text as equation (3.102), we have Φ(ρ, θ) = ρ ν 16V X (−1)(n+ν−2)/2 cos(νφ) . π 2 n,ν nν b The sums over n and ν are now decoupled: (∞ )( ∞ ) ρ ν X (−1)ν 16V X (−1)n Φ(ρ, θ) = cos(νφ) π2 2n + 1 2ν + 1 b n=0 ν=0 (∞ ) ρ ν 16V n π o X (−1)ν cos(νφ) = 2 π 4 2ν + 1 b ν=0 4V 2ρb cos φ = tan−1 π b2 − ρ 2 Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 3 14 This agrees with the result of Problem 2.13, with V1 = −V2 = V . The first series is just the Taylor series for tan−1 (x) at x = 1, so it sums to π/4. The second series can also be put into the form of the Taylor series for tan−1 (x), using tricks exactly analogous to what I did in my solution for Problem 2.13.