Change of variable (involving partial diff.)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving change of variables in the context of partial differentiation, specifically related to integrals and potential functions in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of taking certain factors outside of integrals, question the limits of integration, and discuss the use of substitution methods. There is also a focus on the physical meaning of potential and the representation of vector quantities.

Discussion Status

The conversation is active, with participants providing guidance on integral limits and substitution techniques. Some participants express confusion about specific points, while others clarify concepts related to vector representation and potential functions.

Contextual Notes

There are mentions of specific homework rules regarding the treatment of limits and the physical interpretation of potential, as well as references to external resources for further clarification.

athrun200
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Homework Statement



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Homework Equations



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The Attempt at a Solution


I am not sure part b and c.

Also, I don't know how to answer the last question.

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In your solution for part 3, you have a factor of r3 in the denominator outside the integral (in each of the three integrals). Remember r = x + y + z, so you cannot take it outside the integral.

Your approach for part c looks confusing. We'll talk about part c, let's get through part b first.
 
Sourabh N said:
In your solution for part 3, you have a factor of r3 in the denominator outside the integral (in each of the three integrals). Remember r = x + y + z, so you cannot take it outside the integral.

Your approach for part c looks confusing. We'll talk about part c, let's get through part b first.

It seems [itex]r=\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}}[/itex], isn't it?
 
Ah, ofcourse! My bad.
 
Well if I intergrate r at the same time, it becomes [itex]\int\frac{x}{({x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}})^\frac{3}{2}}[/itex]

Which is difficult to integrate...
 
athrun200 said:
Well if I intergrate r at the same time, it becomes [itex]\int\frac{x}{({x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}})^\frac{3}{2}}[/itex]

Which is difficult to integrate...
Not really. For example, for x integral take x2 + y2 + z2 = t, then 2xdx = dt and your integral is simply dt/2*(t^1.5)
 
Sourabh N said:
Not really. For example, for x integral take x2 + y2 + z2 = t, then 2xdx = dt and your integral is simply dt/2*(t^1.5)

Oh. I forget that I can use substitution.
But how about the new interval?
From 0 to x^2+y^2+z^2?
 
athrun200 said:
Oh. I forget that I can use substitution.
But how about the new interval?
From 0 to x^2+y^2+z^2?
Common convention is to express potential relative to potential at infinity, so limits would be[itex]\infty[/itex] to x2 + y2 + z2.
 
Now, I find that the integral for x, y and z are the same.
Is that correct now?

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  • #10
athrun200 said:
Now, I find that the integral for x, y and z are the same.
Is that correct now?

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2 things. First, although you wrote 0 as lower limit, you realize it's actually infinity (as I mentioned in previous post). Having the correct upper and lower limit will help you fix the sign of final value for x integral you get.
Second, note it's the x integral; it is accompanied with a [itex]\hat{x}[/itex] and similarly y and z integral are accompanied with respective unit vectors. Together they form [itex]\vec{E}[/itex] which has to look same as 8.11 (this is part c!)
 
  • #11
Sourabh N said:
2 things. First, although you wrote 0 as lower limit, you realize it's actually infinity (as I mentioned in previous post). Having the correct upper and lower limit will help you fix the sign of final value for x integral you get.
Do you mean I should put infinty as the upper limit and x^+y^+z^2 as lower limit?
What is the physical meaning if I put infinty as the lower limit and x^+y^+z^2 as the upper limit?
Sourabh N said:
Second, note it's the x integral; it is accompanied with a [itex]\hat{x}[/itex] and similarly y and z integral are accompanied with respective unit vectors. Together they form [itex]\vec{E}[/itex] which has to look same as 8.11 (this is part c!)

I don't understand this point.
Do you mean that I miss out the vector?

However, inside the integral is a dot product. i.e.[itex]F\bullet dr[/itex]
Since dot product produce scalar only, there should be not any vector left.
 
  • #12
athrun200 said:
Do you mean I should put infinty as the upper limit and x^+y^+z^2 as lower limit?
What is the physical meaning if I put infinty as the lower limit and x^+y^+z^2 as the upper limit?
Look at it this way - x2 + y2 + z2 = t (where y and z and not constant anymore). So, 2xdx + 2ydy + 2zdz = dt. This substitution makes more sense than taking x2 + y2 + z2 = t with y and z constant as I had suggested previously. Because now the limit of integral is infinity and x2 + y2 + z2. I am not sure about limits of the integral if y and z are kept constant.

On the meaning of upper lower limits - Griffith defines potential like
potential.jpg
I cannot possibly give a better explanation. I highly recommend you have a look (Sec 2.3 in Griffith - Intro to electrodynamics)

I don't understand this point.
Do you mean that I miss out the vector?

However, inside the integral is a dot product. i.e.[itex]F\bullet dr[/itex]
Since dot product produce scalar only, there should be not any vector left.

Ignore this. I jumped on part c in my head.
 
Last edited:
  • #13
Sourabh N said:
Look at it this way - x2 + y2 + z2 = t (where y and z and not constant anymore). So, 2xdx + 2ydy + 2zdz = dt. This substitution makes more sense than taking x2 + y2 + z2 = t with y and z constant as I had suggested previously. Because now the limit of integral is infinity and x2 + y2 + z2. I am not sure about limits of the integral if y and z are kept constant.

On the meaning of upper lower limits - Griffith defines potential like View attachment 37100 I cannot possibly give a better explanation. I highly recommend you have a look (Sec 2.3 in Griffith - Intro to electrodynamics)



Ignore this. I jumped on part c in my head.

So [itex]\phi=\frac{q}{r}[/itex]?
If it is correct, let's move to part c.

I would like to know if I get the correct cylindrical form.
 
  • #14
athrun200 said:
So [itex]\phi=\frac{q}{r}[/itex]?
If it is correct, let's move to part c.
Yes that is correct. You can check that by using [itex]\vec{E}[/itex] = -[itex]\nabla[/itex] [itex]\phi[/itex] and comparing it with 8.11
I would like to know if I get the correct cylindrical form.
To get [itex]\phi[/itex] in cylindrical form, you have to write [itex]\vec{E}[/itex] in cylindrical coordinates and follow the procedure as above. (To know how to go to cylindrical from spherical, look at http://is.gd/JFitBh)
 
  • #15
Sourabh N said:
To get [itex]\phi[/itex] in cylindrical form, you have to write [itex]\vec{E}[/itex] in cylindrical coordinates and follow the procedure as above. (To know how to go to cylindrical from spherical, look at http://is.gd/JFitBh)

Do you mean that my approach above can't get the answer?
If so, why?
 

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