Boundary conditions in dielectric problems

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the boundary conditions in dielectric problems, specifically regarding a conducting sphere partially submerged in a dielectric medium. The electric field is derived from the potential function A/r, leading to the normal components of electric displacement D1n and D2n at the interface of two media with permittivities e1 and e2. A key conclusion is that the surface charge density on the conducting sphere must be correctly accounted for, as different polarization in the dielectric media affects the charge distribution. The error identified involves an incorrect assumption about the uniformity of surface charge density on the sphere.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric displacement fields (D) in dielectric materials
  • Knowledge of boundary conditions in electrostatics
  • Familiarity with spherical symmetry in electric fields
  • Concept of surface charge density in conductors
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the effects of dielectric polarization on electric fields
  • Learn about boundary conditions in electrostatics with multiple dielectric media
  • Explore the concept of surface charge density in conductors and its implications
  • Investigate the behavior of electric fields in spherical geometries
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This discussion is beneficial for physicists, electrical engineers, and students studying electrostatics, particularly those working with dielectric materials and boundary conditions in electric fields.

RickRazor
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Q) A conducting sphere of radius R floats half submerged in a liquid dielectric medium of permittivity e1. The region above the liquid is a gas of permittivity e2. The total free charge on the sphere is Q. Find a radial inverse-square electric field satisfying all boundary conditions and determine the free, bound, and total charge densities at all points on the surface of the sphere. Formulate an argument to show that this electric field is the actual one.

By the condition that potential should be same at the interface between dielectric 1 and dielectric 2, we get that potential as a function of r is same in both media.
But my question is that, when we use the second boundary condition, i.e., the normal components of Electric displacements have a difference of the free charge density on the interface, we get something weird.

D inside the conducting sphere is 0 and the potential is of the form A/r due to spherical symmetry and boundary conditions.

D1n(Normal component of Electric displacement in dielectric 1) at r=R= -e1*A/r^2
D2n(Normal component of Electric displacement in dielectric 2) at r=R = -e2*A/r^2

So, using the conditions, we get
D1n - 0 =sigma
D2n - 0 = sigma

Which is obviously wrong. So where did I make a mistake?
Thank you
 
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An answer from StackExchange:

You have made an incorrect assumption about the surface charge density on the conducting sphere.
If you have a parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates there is a uniform charge density on the plates.
What does introducing a dielectric half way into the capacitor do to the surface charge density on the plates?

Farcher
 
A bit late, but I found this thread searching for a similar problem:

If the two dielectric media in contact with the sphere polarize differently they would have different surface polarization charge densities just outside the sphere. The charge on the sphere would get rearranged accordingly.
 

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