EE101A Engineering Electromagnetics Fall 2017

Homework #2 Solution

Problem #1 (15 points) Ulaby 4.26 (6e, 7e)

Note: If you are using 7th edition, the charge density is given as = 5 , the solution is
= 5[2 (1 (1 + )) ]

Problem #2 (20 points)

Solution:
(a) Surface charge density :

At = 1 , = , at = , = , and at =
412 4 2

, = 42
.

(b) =
When 0 < 1 , = 0.
When 1 , 4 2 0 = from Gauss
law.

=
40 2

When < < , = 0.

When , 4 2 0 = from Gauss law.

=
40 2

(c) = . Potential at the center of the sphere is thus given by:

( ) ( = 0) =
0
Since electric field only exist for 1 and ,


= [ 2
+
]
0 1 40 40 2
1 1 1
= ( )
40 1

Assuming infinity is the reference with zero potential, then:

1 1 1
( = 0) = ( + + )
40 1

For 0 < 1 ,
1 1 1
() = ( = 0) = ( + + )
40 1
For 1 ,

() ( = 0) = =
0 1
1 1
= ( )
40 1
 1 1 1 1 1
() = ( = 0) + ( )= ( + + )
40 1 40
For < < ,
1 1 1
() = ( = ) = ( )=
40 1 40

For > ,

1 1
() ( = ) = = ( )
40
1
() =
40

The potential distribution is sketched as:

(d) When the outer sphere touches the ground:

The surface charge density at 1 and remains the same. While at =

becomes 0.

Electric field for region 0 < remains the same. While the electric field for
becomes 0, sine no net charge is enclosed in the Gaussian surface for .

o When 0 < 1 , = 0.

o When 1 , = 40 2
o When < < , = 0.
o When , = 0.

1
Potential is reduced by 4 since the potential for region is 0.
0
1 1
o When 0 < 1 , = ( + ).
40 1
 1 1
o When 1 , = ( + ).
40
o When < < , = 0.
o When , = 0.
The potential distribution is sketched as:

Problem #3 (20 points)

Solution:
(a) Since the plane of surface charge is infinite, and since charge is uniformly
distributed, we can take the Gaussian surface as shown in the figure. We have:

= for > 0 and = for < 0

2 2 0 = 2 , = 2 , thus:
0

o For > 0, =
20

o For < 0, =
20

(b)

We have: =
(1) When b<x<b,

2 20 = 2 0 = 2 20


=
0
0
=
0
(2) When || ,
 0
,
= 0
0
,
{ 0

Problem #4 (15 points) Find the capacitance per unit length of the coaxial line shown in Fig.
4-25 in Ulaby.

Solution:
To find the capacitance per unit length of the coaxial line, the charge and potential on the coaxial
line are needed. Assume a coaxial line with length L has charge on the inner connector with
radius and + on the outer conductor with radius . We can construct a cylindrical Gaussian
surface in the dielectric in between the conductors, with radius r such that < < . Symmetry
implies that the electric field is identical at all points on this surface, directed radially inward.
That is:

=
2
The potential difference between the outer and inner conductors is:


= = ( ) = ln
2 2

The capacitance for the coaxial line with length is then given by:
2
= =
ln(/)

And the capacitance per unit length of the coaxial line is:
2
= = (F/m)
ln(/)

Problem #5 (30 points) Coaxial capacitor

Solution:
(a) For coaxial line with length of , assuming a coaxial line with length L has charge on
the inner connector with radius and + on the outer conductor with radius 4. Again
by applying Gausss law the electric field is found as:

= , < 2
21

= , 2 < 4
22
The potential difference between the outer and inner conductors is:
4 2 4

= = [ ( ) + ( ) ]
21 2 2 2

2 4 ln 2 1 1
= ln + ln = ( + )
21 22 2 2 1 2

The capacitance for the coaxial line with length is then given by:
21 2
= =
ln 2 (1 + 2 )

(b)

When 1 = 2 , = , this agrees with the solution in problem #4. (b=4a)
ln(2)