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Electromagnetism - Lecture 4 Dipole Fields

1) The document discusses electric and magnetic dipoles, including their fields and behavior in external electric and magnetic fields. 2) It introduces the method of images to solve problems involving point charges near conducting surfaces by using image charges that satisfy boundary conditions. 3) Examples are given of finding the electric field and surface charge density near a conducting plane and conducting sphere in a uniform external electric field using the method of images and representing the polarization as a dipole.

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Shlôkä Jõshï
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243 views

Electromagnetism - Lecture 4 Dipole Fields

1) The document discusses electric and magnetic dipoles, including their fields and behavior in external electric and magnetic fields. 2) It introduces the method of images to solve problems involving point charges near conducting surfaces by using image charges that satisfy boundary conditions. 3) Examples are given of finding the electric field and surface charge density near a conducting plane and conducting sphere in a uniform external electric field using the method of images and representing the polarization as a dipole.

Uploaded by

Shlôkä Jõshï
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Electromagnetism - Lecture 4

Dipole Fields

• Electric Dipoles
• Magnetic Dipoles
• Dipoles in External Fields
• Method of Images
• Examples of Method of Images

1
Electric Dipoles
An electric dipole is a +Q and a −Q separated by a vector a
Very common system, e.g. in atoms and molecules
The electric dipole moment is p = Qa pointing from −Q to +Q
Potential of an electric dipole:
 
Q 1 1 Q(r− − r+ )
V = − =
4π0 r+ r− 4π0 r+ r−
Using cosine rule, where r is distance from centre of dipole:

2 2 a2
r± =r + ∓ ar cos θ
4
and taking the “far field” limit r >> a
Qa cos θ p.r̂
V = 2
=
4π0 r 4π0 r 2

2
Electric Dipole Field
Components of the electric field are derived from E = −∇V
In spherical polar coordinates:
∂V 2p cos θ
Er = − =
∂r 4π0 r 3
1 ∂V p sin θ
Eθ = − =
r ∂θ 4π0 r 3
In cartesian coordinates, where the dipole axis is along z:
p(3 cos2 θ − 1)
Ez =
4π0 r 3
3p cos θ sin θ
Ex/y =
4π0 r 3
Electric dipole field decreases like 1/r 3 (for r  a)

3
Notes:

Diagrams:

4
Magnetic Dipoles
A bar magnet with N and S poles has a dipole field
A current loop also gives a dipole field
Example: atomic electrons act as current loops
Think of current elements +Idl and −Idl on opposite sides of the
current loop as equivalent to +Q and −Q
The magnetic dipole moment points along the axis of the loop
Direction relative to Idl is given by corkscrew rule

m = Iπa2 ẑ = IAẑ
For a current loop m is the product of current times area
Magnetic dipole field has the same shape as electric dipole field:
2µ0 m cos θ µ0 m sin θ
Br = Bθ =
4πr 3 4πr 3

5
Dipoles in External Fields

An External Field is provided by some large and distant charge


(or current) distribution
Usually assumed to be uniform and constant, i.e. it is not changed
by any charges or currents that are inserted in it

An electric dipole in a uniform electric field E0 aligns itself with


the external field with p || E

Work needed to reverse direction of dipole:

∆U = W+ + W− = 2QaE0 = 2pE0

6
Torque and Energy of Dipoles

Consider electric dipole at angle θ to external electric field E0


Torque acting to rotate the dipole into alignment with the field:
T = QaE0 sin θn̂ = p × E

The work done during this rotation is:


Z Z
W = T dθ = pE0 sin θdθ = pE0 cos θ

Potential energy of an electric dipole in an external electric field:


U = −p.E

Similar results for a magnetic dipole in an external magnetic field:


U = −m.B T=m×B

7
Notes:

Diagrams:

8
Method of Images

A point charge +Q is a distance a from a flat conducting surface


Boundary conditions: E|| = 0 at the conducting surface
but E⊥ = σ/0 is allowed at the surface
A simple point charge field does not satisfy these conditions!
⇒ but a dipole field centred on the surface does

Method of images:
Put an image charge −Q a distance −a behind the surface
Note that this charge does not actually exist!
Calculate the dipole field from the +Q and −Q and show that it
satisfies the boundary conditions

9
Electric Field at Conducting Surface

Using the method of images the field at the conducting surface is


the z component of a dipole field at θ = 90◦ :
2Qa(3 cos2 θ − 1) −Qa
Ez = =
4π0 r 3 2π0 (x2 + y 2 )3/2

This field must be produced by a surface charge density σ:


σ −Qa
Ez = σ=
0 2π(x2 + y 2 )3/2

There is no electric field inside the conductor E(z < 0) = 0


The distribution of σ on the surface has exactly the same effect as
R
a −Q placed at −a (can show that σdS = −Q)
Note that there is an attractive force between +Q and the surface

10
Notes:

Diagrams:

11
Notes:

Diagrams:

12
Conducting Sphere in External Field
Boundary conditions: Eθ = 0 at the spherical surface
but Er = σ/0 is allowed at the surface
A uniform external field E0 does not satisfy these conditions!

Think what would happen to a surface charge distribution:


+σ will prefer to be on one side of the sphere
−σ will prefer to be on the other side of the sphere
The sphere becomes polarized with a dipole moment p

Hypothesis: the polarization of the sphere can be represented by an


electric dipole at its centre
The electric field at the surface is the sum of the uniform external
field and the dipole field

13
Electric Field at Surface of Sphere
Potential is superposition of uniform and dipole potentials:
p cos θ
V = −E0 r cos θ + 2
+ V0
4π0 r
The spherical surface r = R must be an equipotential V = V0
p = 4π0 R3 E0 = 30 E0 VS
Dipole moment depends on E0 and volume of sphere VS
Note that this works for all cos θ!
The surface charge density depends on E0 and cos θ:
2p cos θ
σ = 0 Er = 0 (E0 cos θ + ) = 30 E0 cos θ
4π0 R3
From cos θ there is +σ in the right hemisphere and −σ in the left
hemisphere.

14
Notes:

Diagrams:

15
Notes:

Diagrams:

16

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