# Charge distribution of a uniformly charged disk

by fluidistic
Tags: charge, charged, disk, distribution, uniformly
 PF Patron P: 3,143 1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data The problem can be found in Jackson's book, I think in chapter 1 problem 3 or something like this. I must determine the charge distribution of a uniformly charged disk of radius R in spherical coordinates (I've done it in cylindrical coordinates and had no problem). The total charge is Q. I've found a solution on the internet but the answer is different from mine. I forgot to mention that I have to use Dirac's delta. 2. Relevant equations $\int _{\mathbb{R}^3} \rho (\vec x )=Q$. 3. The attempt at a solution Since the charges are over a 2d surface, there will be 1 Dirac's delta in the expression for rho, the charge density. I will use Heaviside's step function because the surface is limited. Let $(r, \theta , \phi )$ be the coordinates. I make the ansatz/educated guess that $\rho$ is of the form $C \delta \left ( \theta - \frac{\pi }{2} \right ) \Theta (r \sin \theta -R)$. Integrating this distribution in all the space, I reach that C is worth $\frac{3Q}{2\pi R^3}$. Therefore $\rho (r, \theta )=\frac{3Q\delta \left ( \theta - \frac{\pi }{2} \right ) \Theta (r \sin \theta -R)}{2\pi R^3}$. However the solution provided on the internet is $\rho (\vec x )=\frac{q }{\pi R^2r} \delta \left ( \theta - \frac{\pi }{2} \right ) \Theta (r -R)$. Are they both equivalent (I doubt it), if not, did I do something wrong? If so, what did I do wrong? Thanks a lot!
 P: 168 So your charge diverges at theta = Pi/2 ? that seems odd to me. If the disc is uniformly charged then the delta function seems to much to me. Can't you use the delta functions most useful prop: $Q(r) = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \delta(r-r')Q(r')dr'$ But i think that uniformly means that Q = rho * A (integrate constant)
PF Patron
P: 3,143
 Quote by dikmikkel So your charge diverges at theta = Pi/2 ?
Not really. My charge distribution says that it's confined in the plane z=0, or in spherical coordinates, $\delta \left ( \theta - \frac{\pi }{2} \right )$. This isn't a function (does not diverge). This notation just tells me that there's no charge outside the z=0 plane. The charge doesn't diverge in the z=0 plane. To get the total charge, I have to integrate the charge density (rho) over all the space. The integral converges, thankfully :)

P: 312

## Charge distribution of a uniformly charged disk

a delta function in spherical coordinates is δ(r,r')=δ(r-r')δ(θ-θ')δ(ψ-ψ')/(r^2sinθ)
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P: 3,143
 Quote by sunjin09 a delta function in spherical coordinates is δ(r,r')=δ(r-r')δ(θ-θ')δ(ψ-ψ')/(r^2sinθ)
Hmm I see but how this can help me?
Also I've solved the exact same problem with cylindrical coordinates and my answer was exactly the same as the internet's one, and I'm guessing that δ(r,r')=δ(r-r')δ(θ-θ')δ(z-z')/r in cylindrical coordinates. I didn't use this fact to get the answer.
P: 312
 Quote by fluidistic Hmm I see but how this can help me? Also I've solved the exact same problem with cylindrical coordinates and my answer was exactly the same as the internet's one, and I'm guessing that δ(r,r')=δ(r-r')δ(θ-θ')δ(z-z')/r in cylindrical coordinates. I didn't use this fact to get the answer.
The δ(θ-pi/2) part of your expression is missing a 1/r factor, if you think about the difference between dθ and dz. What you want is an infinitesimal displacement in the z direction, i.e., dz=r*dθ at pi/2.

BTW in cylindrical system δ(r,r')=$\delta(r-r')\frac{\delta(\phi-\phi')}{r}\delta(z-z')$, where the 1/r is associated with the delta of $\phi$ coordinate, for the same consideration, but z coordinate is unaffected.
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P: 3,143
 Quote by sunjin09 The δ(θ-pi/2) part of your expression is missing a 1/r factor, if you think about the difference between dθ and dz. What you want is an infinitesimal displacement in the z direction, i.e., dz=r*dθ at pi/2. BTW in cylindrical system δ(r,r')=$\delta(r-r')\frac{\delta(\phi-\phi')}{r}\delta(z-z')$, where the 1/r is associated with the delta of $\phi$ coordinate, for the same consideration, but z coordinate is unaffected.
What I don't understand is why do I have to use "δ(r,r')"?
For instance in cylindrical coordinates, I made the ansatz that the solution to the problem is $\rho (\vec x)=C \Theta (r-R) \delta (z)$. When integrated over all the space, this gave me $C=\frac{Q}{\pi R^2}$ leading to $\rho (r,z)=\frac{Q}{\pi R^2}\Theta (r-R) \delta (z)$ which coincides with the answer found on the Internet. I tried the exact same method in spherical coordinates but for some unknown reason to me, the answer found on the Internet differs from mine.
In either cases, I didn't use the expression for δ(r,r').
P: 312
 Quote by fluidistic What I don't understand is why do I have to use "δ(r,r')"? For instance in cylindrical coordinates, I made the ansatz that the solution to the problem is $\rho (\vec x)=C \Theta (r-R) \delta (z)$. When integrated over all the space, this gave me $C=\frac{Q}{\pi R^2}$ leading to $\rho (r,z)=\frac{Q}{\pi R^2}\Theta (r-R) \delta (z)$ which coincides with the answer found on the Internet. I tried the exact same method in spherical coordinates but for some unknown reason to me, the answer found on the Internet differs from mine. In either cases, I didn't use the expression for δ(r,r').
Your ansatz for the spherical coordinates is incorrect, the delta function on θ should be δ(θ-π/2)/r, which corresponds to the infinitely thin x-y plane, upon which you multiply the Heaviside function. δ(θ-π/2) alone corresponds to an infinitely thin SOLID ANGLE around the x-y plane.
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P: 3,143
 Quote by sunjin09 Your ansatz for the spherical coordinates is incorrect, the delta function on θ should be δ(θ-π/2)/r, which corresponds to the infinitely thin x-y plane, upon which you multiply the Heaviside function. δ(θ-π/2) alone corresponds to an infinitely thin SOLID ANGLE around the x-y plane.
Ok thank you very much, I'm going to think about it. If I have any problem, I'll post here.

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