TUTORIAL SHEET-2 (PYL-101)

Electric Fields in Matter, Magnetostatics and Magnetic Field in

Matter
Q.1 A point charge q is placed at distance r from a neutral atom having polarizability 𝛼. Find the
attraction force between them.

Field due to the point charge q is

𝑞
𝑬= 𝒓ො
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 2
𝑞
Now, the induced dipole moment, 𝒑 = 𝛼𝑬 = 𝛼 𝒓ො
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 2

Field due to the dipole at a distance r,

𝑝
𝑬𝑑𝑖𝑝 = ො ෡
3 (2 cos 𝜃 𝒓 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝜽)
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟
𝑝 1 2𝛼𝑞
𝑬𝑑𝑖𝑝 𝑟, 𝜃 = 𝜋 = −2𝑟Ƹ = towards atom
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 3 4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 3 4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 2

𝑞 2 1
Force of attraction is , 𝐹 = 𝑞 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑝 = 2𝛼
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟5
Q.2 A sphere of radius R has polarization
𝑷 𝒓 = 𝑘𝒓
Where k is constant, and r is vector from the center.
(a) Calculate the bound charges 𝜎𝑏 and 𝜌𝑏
(b) Find the electric field both inside and outside the sphere
Given, polarization of the sphere, 𝑷 𝒓 = 𝑘 𝒓ො
(a) Bound charges,
ෝ =𝑘𝒓∙𝒏
𝜎𝑏 = 𝑷 ∙ 𝒏 ෝ=𝑘𝑅
1 𝜕
𝜌𝑏 = −𝛁 ∙ 𝑷 = − 𝑟 2 𝑘 𝑟 = −3𝑘
𝑟 2 𝜕r
(b) Electric field,
𝑄 𝜌𝑟 −3𝑘 𝑘
Inside (r < R), 𝑬= 𝒓ො = 𝒓ො = 𝑟 𝒓ො = − 𝒓
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 2 3𝜖0 3𝜖0 𝜖0
𝑄 1 4
Outside (r > R), 𝑬= 𝒓ො = 𝜎𝑏 4𝜋𝑅2 + 𝜌𝑏 𝜋𝑅 3 =0
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑅2 4𝜋𝜖0 𝑅2 3
Q.3 A thick spherical shell having inner radius a and outer radius b is made up of dielectric medium with polarization
as given below
𝑘
𝑷 𝒓 = 𝒓ො
𝒓
k is constant and r is radius from the center as shown in fig below
(a) Locate all the bound charge, and calculate field produced by it using Gauss’s law.
(b) Find electric displacement D and then find E.

1 𝜕 𝑘 𝑘
(a) 𝜌𝑏 = −𝛁 ∙ 𝑷 = − 𝑟2 =−
𝑟 2 𝜕r 𝑟 𝑟2
𝑘
ෝ=
𝜎𝑏 = 𝑷 ∙ 𝒏 ⇒ At r = a, 𝜎𝑏 = −𝑘/𝑎
𝑟
r = b, 𝜎𝑏 = 𝑘/𝑏
1 𝑄𝑒𝑛𝑐
Gauss’s law, 𝑬 = 𝒓ො ⇒At, 𝑟 < 𝑎 𝑄𝑒𝑛𝑐 = 0 ⇒ 𝐸=0
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 2
⇒At, 𝑟 > 𝑏 𝑄𝑒𝑛𝑐 = 0 ⇒ 𝐸=0
𝑟
⇒At, 𝑎 < 𝑟 < 𝑏 𝑄𝑒𝑛𝑐 = 𝜎𝑏 ȁ𝑟=𝑎 4𝜋𝑎2 + ‫ 𝑏𝜌 𝑎׬‬4𝜋 𝑟 2 𝑑𝑟 = −4𝜋𝑘𝑟
𝑄𝑒𝑛𝑐 𝑘
⇒ 𝑬= 𝒓ො = − 𝒓ො
4𝜋𝜖0 𝑟 2 𝜖0
(b) ‫ = 𝑓𝑄 = 𝒂𝑑 ∙ 𝑫 ׯ‬0
⇒𝐷=0
⇒ 𝜖0 𝑬 + 𝑷 = 0
1
⇒𝑬=− 𝑷
𝜖0

Hence, at r < a and r > b 𝐸 = 0

𝑘
at a < r < b 𝑬 = − 𝒓ො
𝜖0
Q.4 The space between the plates of parallel-plates capacitors is filled with two slabs of linear dielectric material.
Thickness of each slab and distance between the plates is a and 2a respectively as shown in fig. below. Slab 1 and
slab 2 have dielectric constants 2 and 1.5 respectively. The free charge density on the top plate is 𝜎 and on the bottom
plate – 𝜎.
(a) Find the electric displacement D in each slab.
(b) Find the electric field E in both slabs.
(c) Find the polarization P in both the slabs.
(d) Find the potential difference between the plates.
(e) Find the location and amount of all bound charges.
(f) Now that you know all the charges (free and bound), recalculate the field in each plates and verify part (b).
Free charge density at slab 1 is +𝜎 and at slab 2 is −𝜎.
𝜖1 = 2𝜖0 and 𝜖2 = 1.5𝜖0 𝜎

(a) ‫𝜎 = 𝐷 ⇒ 𝐴𝜎 = 𝐴 𝐷 ⇒ 𝑓𝑄 = 𝒂𝑑 ∙ 𝑫 ׬‬
𝐷 𝜎 𝜎 𝐷 𝜎 2𝜎
(b) 𝑫 = 𝜖 𝑬 ⇒ slab 1, 𝐸1 = = = and ⇒ slab 2, 𝐸2 = = =
𝜖1 𝜖0 𝜖𝑟 2𝜖0 𝜖2 𝜖0 𝜖𝑟 3𝜖0
𝜎 𝜖0 2−1 𝜎 𝜎 𝜎
(c) 𝑷 = 𝜖0 𝜖𝑟 − 1 𝑬 ⇒ slab 1, 𝑷𝟏 = 𝜖0 𝜖𝑟 − 1 = = and slab 2, 𝑷𝟐 =
𝜖 2𝜖0 2 3
𝜎 𝜎 7𝜎𝑎
(d) 𝑉 = 𝐸1 𝑎 + 𝐸2 𝑎 = + 𝑎=
𝜖1 𝜖2 6𝜖0
(e) 𝜌𝑏 = −𝛁 ∙ 𝑷 = 0
ෝ
𝜎𝑏 = 𝑷 ∙ 𝒏
𝜎 𝜎
Slab 1: top : 𝜎𝑏 = −𝑃1 = − bottom : 𝜎𝑏 = +𝑃1 =
2 2
𝜎 𝜎
Slab 2: top : 𝜎𝑏 = −𝑃2 = − bottom : 𝜎𝑏 = +𝑃2 =
3 3
(f) Total surface charge
𝜎 𝜎 +𝜎
Slab 1: top : 𝜎 − = −𝜎/2
2 2
𝜎 𝜎 𝜎 𝜎
bottom: − + − 𝜎 = − + 𝜎/2
2 3 3 2 − 𝜎/3
𝜎
𝑬𝟏 = + 𝜎/3
2𝜖0
𝜎 𝜎 𝜎 2 −𝜎
Slab 2: top : 𝜎 − + − = 𝜎
2 2 3 3
𝜎 2
bottom : − 𝜎 = − 𝜎
3 3
2𝜎
𝑬𝟐 =
3𝜖0
Q.5 Suppose that the magnetic field in some region has the form
𝑩 = 𝑘𝑧 𝒙 ෝ
(where k is a constant). Find the force on a square loop (side a), lying in the 𝑦𝑧 plane and centered
at the origin, if it carries a current I, flowing counterclockwise, when you look down the x axis.
Z
• Magnetic force, 𝐹𝑚 = 𝐼‫𝐵 × 𝑙𝑑 ׬‬
−𝑎/2
𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 𝐼 ‫𝑎׬‬/2 −𝑧Ƹ × 𝑥ො 𝑘𝑧 𝑑𝑧 = 0 A D
𝑎
𝑎 1
𝐹𝐵𝐶 = 𝐼 ‫׬‬2
𝑎 𝑦ො × 𝑥ො 𝑘 − 𝑑𝑦 = 𝐼𝑎2 𝑘 𝑧Ƹ Y
−2 2 2
𝑎
2
𝐹𝐶𝐷 = 𝐼 ‫׬‬ 𝑎 𝑧Ƹ × 𝑥ො 𝑘 𝑧𝑑𝑧 = 0
−2 B C
𝑎
− 𝑎 1
𝐹𝐷𝐴 = 𝐼 ‫׬‬𝑎
2
−𝑦ො × 𝑥ො 𝑘 𝑑𝑦 = 𝐼𝑎2 𝑘 𝑧Ƹ
2 2
2

Hence, the force on the loop is 𝐹 = 𝐹𝐷𝐴 + 𝐹𝐵𝐶 = 𝐼 𝑎2 𝑘 𝑧Ƹ

Q.6 A steady current I flows down a long cylindrical wire of radius a (see Fig.). Find the magnetic
field, both inside and outside the wire, if
(a) The current is uniformly distributed over the outside of the wire.
(b) the current is distributed in such a way that J is proportional to s, the distance from the axis

(a) Current is uniformly distributed over the outside surface of the wire,
Ampere’s law, ‫𝜇 = 𝒍𝒅 ∙ 𝑩 ׯ‬0 𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐
Inside, (s < a): 𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐 = 0
𝐵 ∙ 2𝜋𝑠 = 0 ⇒ 𝐵 = 0
𝒂 2𝜋𝑘𝑎3
Outside (s > a): 𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐 = 𝐼 (Total current) ‫= 𝒂𝑑 ∙ 𝑱 ׬‬ ‫∙ 𝒔𝑘 𝟎׬‬ 2𝜋𝑠 𝑑𝒔 =
3
𝑩 ∙ 2𝜋𝑠 = 𝜇0 𝐼
𝜇0 𝐼
⇒ 𝑩= ෡
𝝓
2𝜋𝑠
(b) Current distribution, 𝑱 = 𝑘𝑠 𝒛ො
𝒂 2𝜋𝑘 3 3 𝐼
Total charge, 𝐼 = ‫ 𝑠𝑘 𝟎׬ = 𝒂𝑑 ∙ 𝑱 ׬‬2𝜋𝑠 𝑑𝑠 = 𝑎 ⇒ 𝑘=
3 2𝜋 𝑎3
𝑠 𝑠3 𝜇0 𝐼 𝑠 2
Inside (s < a): 𝐵 ∙ 2𝜋𝑠 = 𝜇0 𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐 = 𝜇0 ‫׬‬0 𝑘𝑠ҧ 2𝜋 𝑠ҧ 𝑑 𝑠ҧ = 𝜇0 2𝜋𝑘 ⇒𝑩= ෡
𝝓
3 2𝜋 𝑎3
𝜇0 𝐼
Outside (s>a): 𝑩= ෡
𝝓
2𝜋𝑠
Q.7 A large parallel-plate capacitor with uniform surface charge 𝝈 on the upper plate and −𝝈 on the lower is moving
with a constant speed v, as shown in figure.
(a) Find the magnetic field between the plates and above and below them.
(b) Find the magnetic force per unit area on the upper plate, including the direction.
(c) Find the speed, v, at which the magnetic force would balance the electrical force.

(a) By using Ampere's law, we get magnetic field due to +𝜎 z

𝜇 𝜎𝑣
𝑩𝟏𝒂 = 0 𝒙 ෝ 1
2
𝜇 𝜎𝑣
𝑩𝟏𝒃 = 0 (−ෝ 𝒙)
2
By using Ampere's law, we get magnetic field due to −𝜎
𝜇0 𝜎𝑣
𝑩𝟐𝒂 = (−ෝ𝒙)
2
𝜇 𝜎𝑣
𝑩𝟐𝒃 = 0 (ෝ 𝒙) y
2
𝑩𝒃𝒕𝒘 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 = 𝜇0 𝜎𝑣(−ෝ 𝒙) 2
𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆,𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘 = 0 𝒙

N.B: See Griffith’s solved problem 5.8

(b) By Lorentz force law we know
𝑭 = න 𝑲 × 𝑩 𝑑𝑎

B=Magnetic field due to lower plate

Then force per unit area on upper plate = 𝒇𝒎 = 𝑲 × 𝑩 = 𝑀𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
𝜇0 𝜎𝑣 𝜎2 𝑣𝜇0
= 𝜎𝑣ෝ
𝒚× −ෝ
𝒙 = 𝒛ො
2 2

𝜎
(c) Electric field of lower plate in region above it is (−ො𝒛)
2𝜖0
𝜎2
Force per unit area on upper plate due to electric field ( 𝒇𝒆 ) = (−ො𝒛)
2𝜖0
Speed (v) at which magnetic force balance electric force is
𝒇𝒆 = 𝒇𝒎
1
we get 𝑣 = = 𝑐.
𝜇0 𝜖0
Q.8 An infinitely long circular cylinder carries a uniform magnetization M parallel to its axis. Find the
magnetic field (due to M) inside and outside the cylinder.

Since M is uniform.
Volume current, 𝑱𝑏 = 𝛁 × 𝑴 = 𝟎
Surface current, 𝑲𝑏 = 𝑴 × 𝒏 ෝ =𝑀𝝓 ෡
This forms a solenoid.
Magnetic field outside the solenoid is = 0.
Magnetic field inside the cylinder is due to the surface current.
𝑩 = 𝜇0 𝑲𝒃 = 𝜇0 𝑴 which is directed parallel to axis.
Q.9 A long circular cylinder of radius R carries a magnetization 𝑴 = 𝑘𝑠 2 𝝋 ෝ , where k is a
ෝ is the usual azimuthal unit vector (see fig.). Find
constant, s is the distance from the axis, and 𝝋
the magnetic field due to M, for points inside and outside the cylinder.
1 𝜕
Volume current, 𝑱𝒃 = 𝛁 × 𝑴 = 𝑠𝑘𝑠 2 = 3𝑘𝑠 𝒛ො
𝑠 𝜕𝑠
෡ × 𝒔ො = −𝑘𝑅2 𝒛ො
ෝ = 𝑘𝑠 𝝓
Surface current, 𝑲𝒃 = 𝑴 × 𝒏 2

𝑅
Total current, 𝐼 = ‫ 𝑎𝑑 𝑏𝐽 ׬‬+ ‫= 𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝐾 ׬‬ ‫׬‬0 3𝑘𝑠 2𝜋𝑠 𝑑𝑠 + −𝑘𝑅2 2𝜋𝑅
= 2𝜋𝑘𝑅3 − 2𝜋𝑘𝑅3 = 0
From Ampere’s law,
Inside, 𝐵 2𝜋𝑠 = 𝜇0 𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐 = 𝜇0 ‫ = 𝑎𝑑 𝑏𝐽 ׬‬2𝜋𝑘𝜇0 𝑠 3
⇒ 𝑩 = 𝜇0 𝑘𝑠 2 𝝓෡ = 𝜇0 𝑴
Outside , 𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐 = 0 ⇒𝐵=0
Q.10 A current I flows down a long straight wire of radius 𝑎. If the wire is made of linear material
(copper, say, or aluminum) with susceptibility 𝜒𝑚 , and the current is distributed uniformly, what is
the magnetic field a distance 𝑠 from the axis? Find all the bound currents. What is the net bound
current flowing down the wire?
If 𝐼𝑓 is the total free current passing through the Amperian loop then,
‫ 𝐻 = 𝑙𝑑 ∙ 𝐻 ׯ‬2𝜋𝑠 = 𝐼𝑓
𝐼 𝜇0 𝐼
For s > a, 𝐼𝑓 = 𝐼 ⇒𝑯= 𝝓෡ ⇒𝐵=
2𝜋𝑠 2𝜋𝑠
𝑠2 𝐼 𝐼𝑠
For s < a, 𝐼𝑓 = 𝐼 ⇒𝑯= 𝑠 ෡
𝝓 ⇒ 𝐵 = 𝜇0 1 + 𝜒𝑚
𝑎2 2𝜋𝑎2 2𝜋𝑎2
Bound currents:
𝜒𝑚
𝑱𝒃 = 𝜒𝑚 𝑱𝒇 = 𝑰
𝜋𝑎2
𝜒𝑚
ෝ = 𝝌𝒎 𝑯 × 𝒏
𝑲𝑏 = 𝑴 × 𝒏 ෝ=− 𝑰
2𝜋𝑎
Net bound current flowing is
𝐼 = 𝐾𝑏 2𝜋𝑎 + 𝐽𝑏 𝜋𝑎2 = −𝜒𝑚 𝐼 + 𝜒𝑚 𝐼 = 0