In summary, the question poses a scenario where a conducting sphere is partially submerged in a liquid dielectric medium with a gas medium above it. The total free charge on the sphere is known, and the task is to find an electric field that satisfies all boundary conditions and determine the free, bound, and total charge densities on the surface of the sphere. The argument presented shows that the electric field obtained using the boundary conditions is incorrect, and the mistake lies in assuming a uniform surface charge density on the conducting sphere. The correct surface charge density would depend on the polarization of the two dielectric media in contact with the sphere.
  • #1
RickRazor
17
3
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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  • #2
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
 
  • #3
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.
 

1. What are boundary conditions in dielectric problems?

Boundary conditions in dielectric problems refer to the conditions that must be satisfied at the interface between two different dielectric materials. These conditions determine how electric fields and charges behave at the interface and are essential for solving dielectric problems.

2. How do boundary conditions affect the behavior of electric fields?

Boundary conditions play a crucial role in determining the behavior of electric fields at the interface between two dielectric materials. They determine how the electric field is reflected, transmitted, and refracted at the boundary, and can significantly impact the overall electric field distribution in the system.

3. What are the most common types of boundary conditions in dielectric problems?

The most common types of boundary conditions in dielectric problems are the continuity of electric displacement, continuity of electric field, and continuity of normal component of electric flux density. These conditions ensure that the electric fields and charges are continuous across the interface between two dielectric materials.

4. How are boundary conditions applied in the solution of dielectric problems?

Boundary conditions are applied as constraints in the mathematical equations used to solve dielectric problems. They are typically used in conjunction with other physical laws, such as Maxwell's equations, to determine the electric field and charge distribution in the system.

5. What happens if the boundary conditions are not satisfied in a dielectric problem?

If the boundary conditions are not satisfied, the solution to the dielectric problem would be physically incorrect. This means that the resulting electric field and charge distribution would not accurately represent the real-world system. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the boundary conditions are properly applied and satisfied in the solution of dielectric problems.

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