Advanced Gauss's Law Question

blackhawk97
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
A solid sphere of radius R has a non-uniform volume charge density \rho(r) and a constant surface charge density \sigma. If the field inside the sphere is uniform and radially atuned, and the field a distance 2R away from the center is zero, find \rho and \sigma in terms of R, r (distance from the center of the sphere), and Q_\text{volume} (the charge associated with \rho, but not with \sigma).

Homework Equations


Gauss's Law

The Attempt at a Solution


I'm not sure how to proceed, but I think the solution should begin by find the total charge on the sphere (ie., adding the integral of the charge calculable from the surface charge density with the integral of the charge calculable from the volume charge density). Am I on the right track?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
So, inside the sphere, what does Gauss's law say? Outside the sphere? Try drawing Gaussian surfaces which are spheres inside and outside the sphere of charge.
 
I know how to do the first part, i think... (finding \sigma). Basically you just use Gauss's Law

\oint{E \cdot dA}=\frac{Q_\text{enclosed}}{\epsilon_0}

... except you set the r in that equation equal to 2R, so you can ultimately set the expression for the E-field equal to zero and... yeah.

But the part about \rho still has me stumped. Can anyone offer a bit more help?

Also, correction to the problem: the field inside the sphere is not radially atuned, it is directed radially outwards.
 
So can you express \sigma in terms of Q_{total}?

For the \rho part you have to take Gauss surfaces inside the sphere as Matterwave said.
 
Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'
This figure is from "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths (3rd edition). It is available to download. It is from page 142. I am hoping the usual people on this site will give me a hand understanding what is going on in the figure. After the equation (4.50) it says "It is customary to introduce the principal quantum number, ##n##, which simply orders the allowed energies, starting with 1 for the ground state. (see the figure)" I still don't understand the figure :( Here is...
Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'
The last problem I posted on QM made it into advanced homework help, that is why I am putting it here. I am sorry for any hassle imposed on the moderators by myself. Part (a) is quite easy. We get $$\sigma_1 = 2\lambda, \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_2 = \lambda, \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_3 = -\lambda, \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ -1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} $$ There are two ways...
Back
Top