MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Physics Department
Physics 8.07: Electromagnetism II December 19, 2012
Prof. Alan Guth
FINAL EXAM
Reformatted to Remove Blank Pages

THE FORMULA SHEETS ARE AT THE END OF THE EXAM.

Problem Maximum Score

1 20

2 20

3 15
Your Name Recitation
4 20

5 25

TOTAL 100
8.07 FINAL EXAM, FALL 2012 p. 2

PROBLEM 1: ANGULAR MOMENTUM AND A ROTATING SHELL OF

CHARGE (20 points)

This is an abbreviated version of Problem 3 of Problem Set 10.

A total charge Q is uniformly distributed over the surface of a sphere of radius R.
The sphere rotates about the z axis with angular velocity ω. The magnetic field of this
construction has been calculated, and is known to be

B in = b0 ω ẑ if r < R
 =
B 3  (1.1)
B out = b0 ωR 2 cos θ r̂ + sin θ θˆ if r > R ,
2r 3
where
µ0 2 Q
b0 = . (1.2)
4π 3 R

(a) (7 points) Consider the case where ω̇
= 0. Calculate the Faraday induced electric
field at the surface of the sphere as a function of θ. Calculate also the torque this
field produces on the sphere.
(b) (6 points) Now assume that ω is constant. Calculate the energy stored in the mag-
netic field. Show that two-thirds is inside the sphere and one-third is outside the
sphere. Write the total magnetic energy as 12 Imag ω 2 , and find an expression for Imag .
(c) (7 points) Calculate the angular momentum stored in the fields. Verify that the
magnitude of the angular momentum coincides with Imag ω.
8.07 FINAL EXAM, FALL 2012 p. 3

PROBLEM 2: CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM IN THE PRESENCE

OF MAGNETIC MONOPOLES (20 points)

We have learned how to show, for the standard version of Maxwell’s equations in-
volving electric charge density ρe and current density Je , that momentum is conserved.
In detail, we learned how to show that for any volume V bounded by a surface S,
  
d 1 3
Pmech,i + 2 Si d x = Tij daj , (2.1)
dt c V S

where Pmech,i is the i’th component of the total mechanical momentum in V, Si is the i’th
component of the Poynting vector, and Tij is the Maxwell stress tensor. Explicit formulas
for Si and Tij are given on p. 13 of the formula sheets. The goal of this problem is to
extend the result to include the possibility that magnetic charges also exist, as described
by the extended version of Maxwell’s equations shown in the formula sheets on p. 11. To
simplify the algebra, however, we will consider the case where ONLY magnetic charge
density ρm and magnetic current density Jm are present, but ρe = Je = 0.
(a) (5 points) If the magnetic charges are discrete, then the rate of change of the total
mechanical momentum in the region is just the sum of the forces acting on the
magnetic monopoles:
 
dPmech,i
(n)
(n)  1
= Fi = qm B − 2 v × E
 , (2.2)
dt n n
c i

(n) (n)
where Fi is the i’th component of the force on the n’th monopole, and qm is the
magnetic charge of the n’th monopole. To demonstrate that Eq. (2.1) holds in the
presence of monopoles, we need to write dPmech,i /dt in the form of a volume integral
over a force density fi , 
dPmech,i
= fi d3 x , (2.3)
dt V

which we do by thinking of each infinitesimal volume element as a magnetic monopole

 and B.
of magnetic charge ρm d3 x. Write an expression for fi in terms of ρm , Jm , E, 
Note that v should not appear in your answer.
(b) (5 points) Use Maxwell’s equations to write the left-hand side of Eq. (2.1), with your
 and B.
result from part (a), entirely in terms of E 

(c) (10 points) Complete the proof, showing that the left hand side of Eq. (2.1) can
be written as a surface integral. Does the Maxwell stress tensor Tij require any
modification? (Hint: We recommend that you use index notation, but you may
use vector notation if you prefer. The vector identities from the inside cover of the
textbook have been added to the formula sheet.)
8.07 FINAL EXAM, FALL 2012 p. 4

PROBLEM 3: THE ELECTRIC FIELD OF A CHARGED PARTICLE

MOVING AT A CONSTANT VELOCITY (15 points)
Suppose that a particle of charge q is moving at speed v0 along the x-axis, following
the trajectory
r (t) = v0 t x
ˆ. (3.1)
From differentiating the Liénard-Wiechert potentials, we have learned that the electric
field of a point charge is given in general by
q |r − r p |  2 
 r , t) =
E( (c − vp2 )u + (r − r p ) × (u × ap ) , (3.2)
4π"0 (u · (r − r p ))3

where the notation is defined in the formula sheets on p. 16. Suppose that an observer is
located on the y axis at (0, y0 , 0), and measures the electric field at time t = 0, exactly
when the particle crosses the origin. Note that all measurements are made in the same
coordinate system that was used in Eq. (3.1) to describe the trajectory.
(a) (5 points) Find the value of the retarded time tr appropriate to this measurement,
and also find the values of r − r p and u. (Remember that vector quantities must be
described as vectors, not numbers.)
 that the observer will measure. (Some
(b) (5 points) Use Eq. (3.2) to find the value of E
of you may know the answer to this question, but to get full credit you must show
how to obtain it from Eq. (3.2).)
 that the observer will measure at the same
(c) (5 points) Find also the magnetic field B
time.

PROBLEM 4: A ROTATING MAGNETIC DIPOLE (20 points)

A rotating magnetic dipole can be thought of as the su-
perposition of two oscillating magnetic dipoles, one along the
x axis, and the other along the y axis (see figure at the right),
with the latter out of phase by 90◦ :

 = m0 [cos(ωt) x̂ + sin(ωt) ŷ] .

m (4.1)

(a) (10 points) Suppose that an observer is located along the z axis, at (0, 0, z0 ). Find
the electric and magnetic fields that she measures, as a function of time. (Remember
that the electric and magnetic fields are vectors, not numbers.)
(b) (5 points) Find the Poynting vector measured by the observer in part (a), as a
function of time, and also find the time-averaged value of the Poynting vector.
(c) (5 points) Now suppose that the observer was located along the x axis, at (x0 , 0, 0).
Find the electric and magnetic fields that she would measure at this point, as a
function of time.
PROBLEM 5: SHORT QUESTIONS (25 points)

(a) (5 points) Suppose I invented a function VAlan (r , t), and defined the Alan gauge as
the gauge for which V (r , t) = VAlan (r , t) for all r and all t. Is it always possible to
write the electromagnetic potentials in Alan gauge? If so, give a recipe for finding
the gauge function Λ that takes one to Alan gauge, where the gauge transformation
is written as
 = A
A  +∇ Λ , V  = V − ∂Λ . (5.1)
∂t
If not, give an argument why not.
(b) (5 points) Suppose I invented a vector function A  Alan (r , t), and defined the
vector-Alan gauge as the gauge for which A(  r , t) = A Alan (r , t) for all r and all
t. Is it always possible to write the electromagnetic potentials in vector-Alan gauge?
If so, give a recipe for finding the gauge function Λ that takes one to Alan gauge,
and if not, give an argument why.
(c) (7 points) The potential energy function for an ideal (static) electric quadrupole is
given by
1 r̂i r̂j
V (r ) = Qij 3 , (5.2)
8π"0 r
where Qij is the quadrupole moment tensor, which is traceless and symmetric. Use
Poisson’s equation to find the charge density ρ(r ) for an ideal quadrupole. Your
answer should be expressed in terms of Qij , and some kind of derivative of a delta
function. (Hint: Start by using the identity
 
1 δij − 3r̂i r̂j 4π
−∂i ∂j = 3
+ δij δ 3 (r) (5.3)
r r 3

from the formula sheet to express r̂i r̂j /r 3 in terms of other quantities.)
(d) (8 points) Accelerating charges normally radiate, but that is not always the case.
Consider a sphere with a total charge Q uniformly spread on its surface, with a
radius R(t) which pulsates:

R(t) = R0 + R1 sin ωt , (5.4)

where 0 < R1 < R0 , so R(t) is always positive. Show that this system does not
radiate, even though the charges are accelerating. (Hint: take advantage of the
symmetry of the system to write down an exact solution to Maxwell’s equations.)
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8.07 Electromagnetism II
Fall 2012

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