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. Determine 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 a0

The problem is symmertic

(r , ) = ( Al r l + Bl r l 1 ) Pl (cos )
l

mutiply both sides by Pl (cos ) then integrate

1
-1

(r , ) Pl (cos ) d (cos ) =

2 l
Al r + Bl r l 1

2l + 1

r=a
1

V Pl ( x ) dx =
0

2
Al a l + Bl a l 1

2l + 1

r=b
0

V Pl ( x ) dx = ( 1) V Pl ( x ) dx =
l

2
Al b l + Bl b l 1
2l + 1

P ( x ) = 1 d ( x 2 1)l P ( x ) = 1 d ( x 2 1)l = ( 1)l P ( x )

l
l
l

2 l l ! dx
2 l l ! dx

1
0

1
Pl ( x ) dx =
2

l 1
2

(l 2 )!!
l + 1
2
!
2

=k

l
l +1

l a
l a

l +1

a 1 ( 1)
( 1) 1 ( 1)
b
b

2l + 1
2l + 1

Al = Vk
&
B
Vk
=

l
2
2
a 2 l +1
a 2 l +1
1
b l 1

b
b

l +1
l
l
l +1

1 2 (l 2 )!!
2
1
r
l
+

l
l a
l a a

( 1) 1 ( 1) + 1 ( 1) Pl (cos )
(r , ) = V
2 l +1
b b
b r

2 4 l + 1 ! 1 a

2 b

2
2 2
2

3V (a + b ) r a b (a + b )
7V

P (cos )

3
3
2
3
3 1
4 a b
16
r (a b )

If b
(r , ) =

3V
4

a2
2 P1 (cos ) 7V
r
16

a4
4 P3 (cos ) +
r

3V
4

r
7V

P1 (cos )
b
16

r3
3 P3 (cos ) +
b

If a 0
(r , ) =

3.2

(a 4 + b 4 ) r 3 a 4 b 4 (a 3 + b 3 )

P (cos ) +
a7 b7 4 7
3
7
r (a b )

A spherical surface of radius R has charge uniformly distributed over its surface with a density Q/4R2,
except for a spherical cap at the north pole, defined by the cone = .
(a) Show that the potential inside the spherical surface can be expressed as
=

1
rl
(
)
(
)
[
P
cos

P
cos

]
Pl (cos )

l +1
l 1
8 0 l =0 2l + 1
R l +1
Q

where, for P-1(cos) = -1. What is the potential outside?

(b) Find the magnitude and the 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)

( r , 0) =
=
=

1
40

1
Q
40 4 R 2
Q
80

( r , )
da
x x

1
rl *
Y ( , )Ylm ( , )R 2 sin d d
l +1 lm
m=l 2l + 1 R
l

4
l =0

rl
Q
(cos
)
P

Pl (cos ) sin d =

l +1 l

l =0 R
0

Pl ( x) =
Q
=
80
=

Q
80

cos1 ( )
rl
(cos
)
P

l +1 l
1 Pl ( x)dx
l =0 R

1
( Pl + 1 ( x) Pl 1 ( x))
2l + 1
x =cos1 ( )

1
rl
P (cos ) ( Pl +1 ( x) Pl1 ( x))

l +1 l
l =0 2l + 1 R
1

1
rl

P
cos
P
cos

) l1 (
) l +1 Pl (cos )

l +1 (
2
l
1
R
+
l =0

(b)

E = r =0 =
Q

=
r r =0 80
=

r +
r
r

1
rl

cos

cos
cos
P
P
P
(
)
(
)
(
)

l +1
l 1
l +1 l

+
2
1
l
R
)
l =1 (

Q
Q
P2 (cos ) P0 (cos ) P1 (cos ) =

240 R 2
240 R 2

Q
sin 2 cos
2
160 R

r =0

3
1
cos 2 1 cos
2
2

 Q
1
=
r r =0 80

1
r l lPl1 (cos ) l cos Pl (cos )

P
cos

P
cos

sin

(
)
(
)
(
)

l 1
l +1
R l +1 1 cos 2
1 cos 2

l =1 ( 2l + 1)

Q P2 (cos ) P0 (cos ) P0 (cos ) cos P1 (cos )

sin
1 cos 2
80
3R 2
1 cos 2

Q
Q
cos 2 1) 1 cos 2 =
sin 2 sin
(
2
2
160 R sin
160 R

E =

Q
sin 2 cos r sin
2
160 R

(c)
cap very small
(i ) Cap very small
=

Q
80

Q
0 8
0
=

1
rl

P
cos
P
cos

(
)
(
)

l 1
l +1
R l +1 Pl (cos )
l =0 2l + 1

1
rl

P
1
P
1
(
)
(
)

l 1
l +1
R l +1 Pl (cos )
l =0 2l + 1

Q
1
Q
P1 (1) P1 (1) P0 (cos ) =

80
R
40 R

E =

Q
sin 2 cos r sin = 0
2
0
160 R

(ii ) Cap very l arg e

=

Q
80

Q
8
0
=

E =

1
rl

P
cos
P
cos
(
)
(
)

l 1
l +1
R l +1 Pl (cos )
l =0 2l + 1

1
rl
Q

P
1
P
1
P (cos )
(
)
(
)

l +1
l 1
l +1 l

R
40 R
l =0 2l + 1

Q
sin 2 cos r sin = 0

160 R 2

3.3
A thin, flat, conducting, circular disc 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 1 / R 2 2 , where is the distance out from the center of the disc .
(a) Show that for r > R the potential is
2V R ( 1) R
(r , , ) =
P2l (cos )

r l = 0 2l + 1 r
l

2l

r =0

(b) Fond the potential for r < R .

(c) What is the capacitance of the disc?
(a)

( r , ) = k
=k

R2 2

( z )( R) = k

(r cos )(r sin R )

2

R 2 (r sin )

(cos )(r sin R)

2

r R 2 (r sin )

2l + 1
Pl (cos ) , azimuthally symmetric , m = 0
4

l
1
4 r l *
r l

=
Y
(

)
Y
(

)
P (cos ) Pl (cos )

lm
lm
l +1 l
x x = l =0 m=l 2l + 1 r l +1
l =0 r

Yl 0 ( , )

(r , ) =

1
40

1
=
( = r sin ) 40

( r , ) 3
d x
x x

r l
k (cos )(r sin R ) 2
P (cos ) Pl (cos )
r dr sin d d

l +1 l
2
2
l =0 r
r R (r sin )

l +2
)
k
R

k
1
2

=
P (0) Pl (cos )
Pl (0) Pl (cos )0 2 2 dr = 2
l +1 l
2 ( l + 3 )
20 l =0 r l +1
R r
0 l =0 r
2
2n + 2
2 n+1
(
)

R
k

P (0) = 0 , P (0) = (1)n (2n 1)!!

2

P
P
(0)
(cos

)
,
=

2n
2n
2n
2 n+1
20 R n=0 r
2 ( 2 n + 3 )
(2n)!!
2
+
2
1
n
k
1 R
n
P2 n (cos )
=
(1)

20 R n=0
2n + 1 r

r l +1

R
k
tan 1
r
0 R

( r = R , = 0) = V =
2V
(r , ) =

R
4 RV
k
k
tan 1 =
k= 0
R R 4
0 R

0
2 n+1

1 R
(1)

2n + 1 r
n= 0

P2 n (cos )

(b) for
r
1
R
(r , ) =

1
40

1
=
( = r sin ) 40
=

k
20

k
=
20

( r , ) 3
d x
x x

r<l
k (cos )(r sin R ) 2
P (cos ) Pl (cos )
r dr sin d d

l +1 l
2
2
l =0 r>
r R (r sin )

r<l
r
k
P (0) Pl (cos )
dr =

l +1 l
2
20
l =0 r>
R 2 ( r )

r r l
l +!
P
P

(0)
(cos
)

l
l
0 r
l =0

R ( r )
2

dr +

R
r

Pl (0) Pl (cos )

l =0

rl
r l +1

r
2

R 2 ( r )

r<l
r>l +1

r
2

R ( r )
2

dr

dr

R r (1) r

tan =
r 2 R l =0 (2l + 1) R

2l

2V r (1) r
(r , ) = V

P2l (cos )
R l =0 (2l + 1) R
2l

(c)

Q = 2C

C=

d
R
2

2VR

Q 2R
=
V

3.6
Two point charges q and q are located on the z axis 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
(c) constant, take the limit of a0 and find the potential for r0. This is by definition a dipole along
the z axis and its potential.
(d) 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 everywhere inside the shell.
(a)
K
(x ) =
=

1 q
q
K K K K

4 0 x x1 x x2

q
1 r<l
4

Ylm* (0, 1 )Ylm ( , ) Ylm* ( , 2 )Ylm ( , )

l +1
4 0 l ,m 2l + 1 r>

the problem is azimuthally symmetric, only m=0 terms survive.

Ylm* (0, 1 ) =

2l + 1
2l + 1
2l + 1
l
Pl (cos 0) =
& Ylm* ( , 2 ) =
Pl (cos ) = (1)
4
4
4

q
(x ) =
0

1
2l + 1 r<l
q
l
l 2l +1 4 r l +1 Yl 0 (, ) 1 (1) = 4
>
0

2l + 1
4

r<l
l
l r l +1 Pl (cos ) 1(1)
>

q
rl
l

Pl (cos ) 1 (1) , r < a

l
+
1
40 l a

( x ) =
q
al
l
P (cos ) 1 (1) , r > a

l +1 l

40 l r

(b)

r>a &a0
q
( r > a, ) =
40

al
q
l
l r l +1 Pl (cos ) 1(1) = 4
0

2a l
l +1 Pl (cos )
l =odd r

q 2a
p cos
P cos ) =
2 1(
40 r
40 r 2
(c)

= s + d = Al r l Pl (cos ) +
l =0

p
cos
40 r 2

(r = b) = 0
(r , ) =

p r
1 cos
40b 2 b

3.7
Three point charges (q, -2q, q) are located in a straight line with separation a and with the middle charge
(-q) at the origin of a grounded conducting spherical shell of radius b, as indicated in sketch (Jackson p.
137).
(a) Write down the potential of the three charges in the absence of the grounded sphere. Find the
limiting form of the potential as a0 , 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 a0,
(r , , )
(a)

r5
1 P2 (cos )
2 0 r 3 b 5
Q

this problem is similar to (3.6), we use slightly different method here:

on z-axis the potential is
(x ) =

q3
q2
1 q1

+
+

40 x x1
x x2
x x3

q 2
1
1
=

+
+
40 r
x x2
x x3

1 r<l
*
*

+ 4
+
0,
,
,
,
Y

(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
2
3
lm
lm
lm
lm
l +1
r

+
2
1
l
r
l ,m
>

azimuthally symmetric , only m = 0 exist

rl
q 2
(x ) =
+ l<+1 ( Pl (1) + Pl (1)) Pl (cos )

40 r
l r>

r
q 2
l
=
+ l<+1 1 + (1) Pl (cos )

40 r
l r>

q
40

When a 0
2

rl
l

+ l<+1 1 + (1) Pl (cos )

r

l r>

q 2
q 2
2a
2a 2 n
=
+ l +1 Pl (cos ) =
+ 2 n+1 P2 n (cos )
l =2 n 40 r

40 r
l =even r
n r

(x ) =

q
40

q
40

2a 2

3 P2 (cos ) = Q 3 P2 (cos ) = Q 3 (3cos 2 1)

r
20 r
40 r

(b)
the surface charge on the sphere produce an extra contribution s to the potential within the
sphere.

2

r<l
l

+ l +1 1 + (1) Pl (cos ) + Al r l Pl (cos )

r
l =0
l r>

q 2

2r l

+ l +1 Pl (cos ) + Al r l Pl (cos ) , r < a

4 r
l =0
l =even a
0

(r , ) =
l

q 2

2a

+ l +1 Pl (cos ) + Al r l Pl (cos ) , r > a

l =0
40 r
l =even r

l

q 2
2a
(b, ) = 0 =
+ l +1 Pl (cos ) + Al bl Pl (cos ) , r = b
l =0
40 b
l =even b

l = 0 , A0 = 0 , Aodd = 0
q
( x ) =
40

q
40

2n
2n

22an+1 P2 n (cos ) + A2 n b 2 n P2 n (cos ) A2 n = q 24an+1
l =1 b
n=1
40 b

2
2a 2 n 2 n
q 2 + 2

r P2 n (cos ) , r < a

a n=1 a 2 n+1 b 4 n+1

40 r
(r , ) =
q 2a 2 n 2a 2 n 2 n

r P2 n (cos ) , r > a

40 n=1 r 2 n+1 b 4 n+1
q 2a 2 n 2a 2 n 2 n
Q 1 r 2

a 0 , (r , ) =
r P2 n (cos )

P2 (cos )

40 n=1 r 2 n+1 b 4 n+1

20 r 3 b5
5
Q r
1 P2 (cos )
=
20 r 3 b

3.9
A hollow right circular cylinder of radius b has its axis coincident with the z axis and its ends at 0 and L .
The potential on the end faces is zero, while the potential on the cylindrical surface is given as V(,z).
Using the appropriate separation of variables in cylindrical coordinates, find a series solution for the
potential anywhere inside the cylinder.
K
2 = 0 with b.c.
( , ,0 ) = 0
( , , L ) = 0
(b, , z ) = V ( , z )

b.c. Q(+2)= Q()

n n
( , , z ) = I m
sin
z {Amn sin (m ) + Bmn cos(m )}
L L
m =0 n=0
Amn , Bmn to be determined from b.c. at =b

n n
V (, z ) = I m b sin z { Amn sin (m ) + Bmn cos (m )}
L L
m= 0 n = 0

dz

n
n b
nb
L
L

d V (, z ) sin (m ) sin
z = I m
A
I
=

Amn

m
n
n
n
m

L
L
2
2
n=0

Amn =

Bmn =

L
2
n
2
dz d V (, z ) sin (m ) sin z

L
nb 0
0
LI m

L
2
L
n
2
dz
d V (, z ) cos (m ) sin z

0
nb 0
L
LI m
L

3.17
The Dirichlet Green function for the unbounded space between the planes at z=0 and z=L allows
discussion of a point charge or a distribution of charge between parallel conducting planes held at zero
potential.
(a) Using cylindrical coordinates show that one form of the Green function is
4 im ( ) nz nz n
n

e
sin
< K m
>
I m
sin

L n =1 m =
L
L L L

G ( x, x ) =

(b) Show that an alternative form of the Green function is

G ( x, x ) = 2

m =

dke im ( ) J m (k )J m (k )

sin (kz < )sinh [k (L z > )]

sinh (kL )

(a)
The differential equation is
2G =

( ) ( ) ( z z )

eign function in z direction sin n z , in direction eim

L
G=

nz
A ( , , z, )sin L e

m = n =1

im

mn

plug into differential equation

2
2

1 m n A sin n z eim
2 L mn L
m= n=1

4
( ) ( ) ( z z )

2
L
n z 2 im 1 m 2 n

0 dz sin L 0 e d 2 L Amn L
n z im
n z im
4
Amn = g mn ( , ) sin
= ( ) sin
e
e

L
L

1 m 2 n 2
g (, ) = 4 ( )

L mn
L

A I (k ) , <
n
g mn ( , ) = m m
When = Am I m (k ) = Bm K m (k ) , k =
Bm K m (k ) , >
L
2
1 2 m
k + g ( , ) = 4 ( )

mn


2
L

4 +
m 2
k 2 + 2 g mn ( , )d = ( )d

L


+

4
4

kBm K m ( k ) kAm I m (k ) =
g mn ( , ) =

L
L

Am =

4
K m ( k )
Lk I (k ) K (k ) I (k ) K ( k )
m
m
m
m

& Bm =

4
I m ( k )
Lk I (k ) K (k ) I (k ) K (k )
m
m
m
m

Use the relation : I m (k ) K m (k ) I m (k ) K m (k ) =

1
k

4
I m (k ) K m (k ) , <
4 K m (k )
4 I (k )
4
L
& Bm = m
Am =
g mn (, ) =
g mn (, ) = I m (k < ) K m (k > )
4
L
L
L
I m (k ) K m (k ) , >
L
4 n n n z n z im( )
G = I m < K m > sin
sin
e
L m= n=1 L L L L

(b) do expansion in

G = dk
0

A (z, z, , )e

m =

dk

dk

J m (k )

2
Amk (z , z, , )eim J m (k )
z 2

2
( )
Amk eim J m (k ) = 4
( ) ( z z )
z 2

( )
2 2 im im

e
e d Amk J m ( k ) J m ( k )d = 4
J m (k )d eim ( ) d ( z z )
2

0
0
0
0
z

m =

im

( ) ( ) ( z z)

mk

m =

2G = dk
4

& directions

m =

(k k )
2
2
dk k 2 + 2 Amk J m ( k ) J m ( k )d = 2 J m ( k )eim ( z z )
dk k 2 + 2 Amk = 2 J m ( k )eim ( z z )

0
0
z 0
z
k

2
2

k 2 + 2 Amk = 2kJ m (k )eim ( z z ) Amk = g mk ( z ) eim J m (k ) k 2 + 2 g mk ( z ) = 2k ( z z )

z
z

at (Same as (a))
1 (0) = 0, 2 ( L) = 0
1 = sinh (kz ), 2 = sinh (k ( L z ))
CW sinh (kz ),sinh (k ( L z )) = 2k = k sinh (kL)C

2
C=
sinh (kL)

G = dk
0

2sinh (kz< ) sinh (k ( L z> )) im( )

e
J m (k )J m (k )
sinh (kL)
m =

3.20
(a) From the results of Problem 3.17 or from first principles show that the potential at a point charge q
between two infinite parallel conducting planes geld at zero potential can be written as
q
nz 0 nz n
(z , ) =
sin
sin
K0

0 L n =1 L L L
where the planes are at z = 0 and z = L and the charge z0 on the z axis at the point .
(b) Calculate the induced surface-charge densities 0() and L() on the lower and upper plates. The

result for L() is

L ( ) =

q
L2

nz 0 n
K0

L L

( 1) n sin
n

n =1

Discuss the connection of this expression with that of Problem 3.19b and 3.19c.
(c) From the answer in part (b) , calculate the total charge QL on the plate at z = L. By summing the
Fourier series or by other means of comparison, check your answer against the known expression
of Problem 1.13.
(a)

( x ) = q

1
( 0 ) ( 0 ) ( z z0 )

G ( x, x ) =
=
=

1
40

4 im( ) n z n z n n
sin
sin
I
K

e
L L m L < m L >
L n=1 m=

( x)G ( x , x)d

x ( is symmetry , only m = 0 term)

n z n z0 n n
q
sin
I 0 < K 0 > ( 0 ) d

sin

L L
0 L n=1 L L 0

n z n z0 n n
q
=
I 0 < K 0 > ( 0 ) d
sin

sin

L L
0 L n=1 L L 0
n z n z0
q
=
sin

sin

0 L n=1 L L

n n
n n
I 0 K 0 ( 0 ) d + I 0 K 0 ( 0 ) d
=0 L L

=
L L

n z n z0
n
n
q

I 0 (0) K 0 + I 0 K 0 (0)
sin
sin

L L
L
L
0 =0 L

n=1
0

n z n z0 n
q
sin
K 0
sin

0 L n=1 L L L

(b)

L = n 0 z= L = (z ) z = L
=

n z0 n q
q n
cos (n ) sin
K =

L 0 L L2
L n=1 L

(1)

n=1

n z0 n
n sin
K
L 0 L

0 = n 0 z=0 = z z =0
=

q n n z0 n
q

K
sin
=

0
L L
L n=1 L
L2

n z0 n
K 0
L L

n sin
n=1

(c)

Q=

q
L2

n z0 n

n
2 q
n

n z0

n
K

n
K d
sin
1
sin
(
)

0
2
=0 =0
L 0 0 L
L L
L n=1
n=1

n z0

L
n z0 1 2q
2 q L
n
n e

= 2 2 (1) sin
=

I
1
(
)

m
L n
L n=1

n
n=1
2

z0

i
2q

= I m ln 1 + e L

z
z0
z0 i
0i
i
qz
2q

L
L
2
e
= I m ln e
+ e 2 L = 0

3.22
The geometry of a two-dimensional potential problem is defined in polar coordinates by the surfaces
= 0 , = and =a , as indicated in the sketch. Using separation of variables in polar coordinates,
show that the Green function can be written as
m

4
G ( , , , ) = <
m =1 m

m >m
2

>

m m
sin

sin

Problem 2.25 may be of use.

From 2.24, for , the angular solution is Qm ( ) sin

( ) =

m m
sin

sin

m =1

K
m m
8
sin

( ) sin
2G ( , , , ) =

m =1

Expand G

( ) =

m m

sin

sin

m =1

m m

sin
G ( , , , ) = g m ( , ) sin
m =1

1 g m 1 m

8
=
( )

For ,
Bm = 0, g m ( , ) = Am ( ) m
< , g m ( 0, ) = 0

2 m
, g m ( , ) = Bm ( ) m a 2 m m
> , g m (a, ) = 0
Am = Bm

invariant under

, exchange

is

 g m = C m <m

a 2m >

>

integrate across the jump

1 g 1 m
d

m 2

g m

as

1 m
Cm

Cm =
gm =

+'

g m

=
'

2 m
1 +
a

4
m

4 m
<
m

m
>

4
G ( , , , ) = <
m =1 m

+
8
( )d
= d

2 m

1 m
Cm
1
a

a 2 m >
m

8
=

1
>

m
m
2


>

m m
sin

sin