BSc/MSci Examination by Course Unit

Friday 09th May 2014 10:00 - 12:30

PHY4210/210 Electric and Magnetic Fields Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO READ THE CONTENTS OF THIS QUESTION PAPER UNTIL
INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY AN INVIGILATOR.

Instructions:
Answer ALL questions from Section A. Answer ONLY TWO questions from Section B.
Section A carries 50 marks, each question in section B carries 25 marks.

If you answer more questions than specified, only the first answers (up to the specified
number) will be marked. Cross out any answers that you do not wish to be marked.

Only non-programmable calculators are permitted in this examination. Please state on your
answer book the name and type of machine used.

Complete all rough workings in the answer book and cross through any work that is not to be
assessed.

Important note: The academic regulations state that possession of unauthorised material at
any time when a student is under examination conditions is an assessment offence and can lead
to expulsion from QMUL.

Please check now to ensure you do not have any notes, mobile phones or unauthorised elec-
tronic devices on your person. If you have any, raise your hand and give them to an invigilator
immediately. It is also an offence to have any writing of any kind on your person, including on
your body. If you are found to have hidden unauthorised material elsewhere, including toilets and
cloakrooms it will be treated as being found in your possession. Unauthorised material found on
your mobile phone or other electronic device will be considered the same as being in possession
of paper notes. A mobile phone that causes a disruption is also an assessment offence.

EXAM PAPERS MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE EXAM ROOM.

Examiners:
Dr R.Russo
Dr D.Young
c Queen Mary, University of London, 2014

Page 2 PHY4210/210 (2014)

SECTION A Answer ALL questions in Section A

Question A1

Two point-like charges Q1 = 31 10−4 C and Q2 = − 13 10−4 C are separated by a distance d = 1 m.

Use Coulomb’s law to calculate the electric force the first charge exerts on the second one.
[5 marks]
Question A2

State Gauss’ law for the electric field defining all symbols used. Briefly express the law in words.
[5 marks]
Question A3

Write the relation between the electric field E ~ and the electric potential φ. Use this relation to
obtain the electric field from the following electric potential
σx
φ= ,
ǫ0
where σ is a constant and x is the coordinate along the x-axis of a three-dimensional Cartesian
system.
[5 marks]
Question A4

Write down the formula for the total resistance of two resistors R1 and R2 in series. Also write
the formula for the total capacitance of two capacitors C1 and C2 in series.
[5 marks]
Question A5
~ Give a general expres-
A point-like charge q moves with velocity ~v in a constant magnetic field B.
sion for the force felt by the particle due to the magnetic field. Use this expression to determine
~
the magnitude of the force acting on the particle when its velocity is parallel or anti parallel to B.
[5 marks]
Question A6

State Gauss’ law for the magnetic field defining all symbols used. Briefly express the law in
words.
[5 marks]
Question A7

The magnetic field produced by a current I flowing through an infinite wire along the z-axis is
µ0 I y µ0 I x
Bx = − , By = , Bz = 0 .
2π x + y
2 2 2π x + y 2
2

~ along a circle around the wire.

Calculate the line integral of B
PHY4210/210 (2014) Page 3

[5 marks]

Question A8

Express the energy density stored in an electromagnetic field at a point x in terms of the magni-
tude of the electric field E and the magnitude of the magnetic field B at that point. Determine the
condition satisfied by E and B when the energies in the electric and magnetic field are equal.

[5 marks]

Question A9

In a region of space there is a magnetic field aligned with the z-axis

Bx = 0 , By = 0 , Bz = b .

Now suppose that b changes with time. Use Faraday’s law to show that an electric field in the
x − y plane is generated.

[5 marks]

Question A10

Write the wave equation for the electric field propagating in a vacuum. Check that the electric
component of the plane wave

Ex = 0 , Ey = E cos(kx − ωt) , Ez = 0 ,

where E, k and ω are constants, will satisfy this equation if ω/k = c.

[5 marks]

Turn over
Page 4 PHY4210/210 (2014)

SECTION B Answer TWO questions from Section B

Question B1

a) Consider an infinitely long, thin wire with a uniform charge density λ; assume that the wire
is aligned with the z-axis. Explain
p why the electric potential generated depends only on the
distance from the wire d = x2 + y 2 .

[4 marks]

b) ~ generated by the wire.

Find the electric field E

[5 marks]

c) ~ obtained in B1.a) in Cartesian coordinates. Use the general rela-

Write the electric field E
tion between the electric potential and the electric field to find an expression for the potential
~
for this E.

[6 marks]

d) The charged wire is placed co-axially inside an infinite hollow cylinder of conducting mate-
rial separated by a distance ℓ from the wire. Determine the electric field: at a point between
the wire and the hollow conductor; at a point within the conductor. Determine the charge
density on the internal face of the hollow cylinder in terms of the charge density λ.

[5 marks]

e) An observer at a distance d from the wire moves with a velocity v ≪ c along the z-axis.
Therefore this observer sees a current I ∼ −λv flowing in the wire and will measure also
a magnetic field. Use the Lorentz transformations on the electric potential φ to derive the
~ measured by the moving observer and thus the magnetic field.
vector potential A

[5 marks]
PHY4210/210 (2014) Page 5

Question B2

a) State Ampère’s law for the magnetic field,

[3 marks]

b) Consider a circular wire loop of radius b carrying a current I. B ~ is the magnetic field
~ on a closed
produced by this current. Use Ampère’s law to calculate the line integral of B
path linked with the circular wire and on a closed path that is not linked with the circular
wire.

[4 marks]

c) Choose a Cartesian system where the circular wire loop lies in the x − y plane and is
centred in the origin. Use the Biot-Savart law to calculate the magnetic field on the z-axis;
note that the z-axis passes through the centre of the loop.

[8 marks]

d) ~ along the z-axis. Hint: you can use the integral

Calculate the line integral of B

dw
Z ∞
=2.
−∞ (1 + w )
2 3/2

[5 marks]

e) ~ along the x-axis?

What is the line integral of B

[5 marks]

Turn over
Page 6 PHY4210/210 (2014)

Question B3

a) A conducting wire loop of radius ρ0 lies in the x − y plane and is immersed in a magnetic
~ pointing in the z-direction. Suppose that the magnetic field decreases in time as
field B
follows
Bz (t) = b0 − ct ,
where c is a positive constant and b0 is the magnetic field at t = 0. Calculate the flux ΦB of
the magnetic field through the circular wire.

[6 marks]

b) Use the previous result and Faraday’s law to calculate the line integral of the induced elec-
tric field evaluated along a full circuit of the wire. Hence express the value of the induced
current in terms of the resistance R of the wire and the constants ρ0 and c.

[7 marks]

c) Consider now the situation where the magnetic field is constant in time and its magnitude
is equal to b0 , but the area of the disk defined by the wire shrinks at a uniform rate c̃ in time.
Calculate the flux ΦB of the magnetic field through the circular wire. Fix the value of c̃ so
as to obtain an induced current I that is identical to the one obtained in B3.b).

[6 marks]

d) Consider the case described in B3.c) and show that work has to be done to shrink the
radius of the wire. Give an explicit expression of the power necessary in terms of the
resistance R and the other data of the problem.

[6 marks]
PHY4210/210 (2014) Page 7

Question B4

a) An infinite straight wire aligned to the z-axis carries a current I. Use Gauss’ law for the flux
through a cylinder centred along the z-axis and show that the magnetic field B ~ produced
by this current is zero in the directions perpendicular to the wire.

[6 marks]

b) Derive the differential form of Gauss’ law starting from the integral form.

[5 marks]

c) The magnetic field produced by a current in B4.a is

µ0 I y µ0 I x
Bx = − , By = , Bz = 0 .
2π x + y
2 2 2π x + y 2
2

~
Check explicitly that it satisfies the differential form of Gauss’ law for B.

[4 marks]

d) Give a derivation of the magnetic field given in B4.c. Hint: you can use the integral

dw
Z ∞
=2.
−∞ (1 + w )
2 3/2

[5 marks]

e) ~ for the magnetic field in B4.c

Find a vector potential A

[5 marks]

End of Paper - An Appendix of 1 page follows

Turn over
Page 8 PHY4210/210 (2014)

Appendix

Useful Data

You may wish to use the following information:

Charge of an electron −e = −1.6 × 10−19 C

Vacuum permittivity ǫ0 = 8.8510−12 C/(V·m)
1
4πǫ0
≃ 9 109 (V·m)/C
Vacuum permeability µ0 = 4π × 10−7 V·s/(A·m)
= 1.257 × 10−6 H·m−1 or N·A−2 or T·m/A
1 eV = 1.6 × 10−19 J (N·m or W·s)