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Exam 1

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Electrodynamics I Midterm Exam - Part A - Closed Book KSU 2015/09/25

Name Score = / 120 points


Instructions: Use SI units. Where appropriate, define all variables or symbols you use, in words. Try
to tell about the physics involved, more than the mathematics, if possible.

1. (10) Write Gauss’ Law in integral form. State its physical significance.

2. (10) A fixed electric charge density ρ(x) exists in space with no boundaries. Write an
expression for the electric field that it produces at a field point x.

3. (10) A fixed electric charge density ρ(x) exists in space with no boundaries. Write an
expression for the electrostatic potential that it produces at a field point x.

4. (10) Write an expression that gives the electrostatic field energy density in vacuum.

5. (10) From a solution for electric potential Φ(x), how can you obtain the surface charge
density σ on a conductor boundary? Let n̂ be the unit vector pointing perpendicularly
outward from the conductor.

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6. (10) From the previous two answers, how do you write the force per unit area caused by the
electric field on a conductor surface? Express the result as a vector.

7. (10) Write Poisson’s equation for electrostatics. Explain what it is good for.

8. (10) Write a differential equation that a Green function G(x, x0 ) for Poisson’s equation must
satisfy, for Dirichlet boundary conditions. Include a statement of the boundary conditions.

9. (10) A problem has Dirichlet boundary conditions. How do you write the general solution
to the Poisson equation for electrostatic potential Φ(x) using a Green’s function?

2
10. (10) In an electrostatics problem with Neumann boundary conditions, what is the simplest
allowable boundary condition on the the Green’s function G(x, x0 )? Hint: The result must
be consistent with the differential equation that G satisfies.

11. Use delta-functions to express the charge density ρ(x) for the following charge distributions,
in the indicated coordinate systems:

a) (10) A point charge q on the z-axis at z = c. Use cylindrical coordinates (ρ, φ, z).

b) (10) A charge Q distributed uniformly over an infinitesimally thin circular disk of radius
a centered on the z-axis and lying in the plane z = 0. Use spherical coordinates (r, θ, φ).

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Electrodynamics I Midterm Exam 1 - Part B - Open Book KSU 2015/09/25
Name Score = / 130 points
Instructions: Use SI units. Please show the details of your derivations here. Explain your reasoning for
full credit. Open-book only, no notes.

1. A point charge q is located a distance a above an infinite plane conductor held at zero
potential. Use the method of images to find

a) (20) The surface charge density on the plane, as a function of a radial coordinate ρ.
b) (20) The force per unit area on the plane, F/A, as a function of ρ.
c) (20) The total electric force on the plane, by integrating the force per area. Is it the
result you expect?

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2. A 2D region, ρ ≥ a, 0 ≤ φ ≤ β is bounded by conducting
surfaces at φ = 0, φ = 0 and φ = β held at zero potential
(curved 2D corner, see Fig.). The potential is determined by
some charges far from the region.

a) (20) Write down a solution for the potential Φ(ρ, φ) that


satisfies the boundary conditions for finite ρ. It may have
undetermined constants.
b) (20) In the case that β = π, the problem is that of a half
cylinder on an infinite plane. To leading order, determine
how the surface charge density depends on ρ along the
boundary at φ = 0, ρ > a.

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3. For a point x in some volume V bounded by a surface S, Green’s theorem can be arranged
into an integral statement about electrostatic potential,

1 ρ(x0 ) 3 0 1 1 ∂Φ ∂ 1
Z I   
Φ(x) = d x + 0
−Φ 0 da0 (1)
4π0 V R 4π S R ∂n ∂n R

where R = |x − x0 | and the other symbols have their usual meanings.


Consider proving the mean-value theorem: For charge-free space the electrostatic potential
at a point is its average over the surface of any sphere centered on that point.

a) (5) To prove this theorem, first explain why the first term in Eq. 1 will be zero for the
specified situation.
b) (10) Next, give a convincing mathematical argument showing why the second term in
Eq. 1 will be zero for the specified situation.
c) (15) Finally, give a convincing mathematical argument showing what the value of the
last term in Eq. (1) is, and explaining how this proves the theorem.

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