Electric Field Problem 2.46 Griffiths

stunner5000pt
Messages
1,443
Reaction score
4
Problem 2.46 Griffiths EM
The electric field of some configuration is given by the expression
V(\vec{r}) = a \frac{e^{\lambda r}}{r}

where A and lambda are constants. Find the electric field E(r) , charge density rho (r) and the total charge Q

i can easily find the E and rho
in fact rho is given by
\rho = \epsilon_{0} A (4 \pi \delta^3(\vec{r}) - \frac{\lambda^2 e^{-\lambda r}}{r})

now there's the part of finding the total charge Q

i have to integrate roh over all space.. but wait.. the potential will blow up to negative infinity if we included negative value for r. But what about the part with the dirac delta function?? Is it integrated over all space or just the part for which r is valid. On my assignment i integrated the dirac delta from 0 to r and the resulting integral was zero

so my integral looks like

Q = \epsilon_{0} A \left( 4 \pi \int_{0}^{\infty} \delta^3 (\vec{r}) d\vec{r} - \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\lambda^2 e^{-\lambda r}}{r} dr \right) = - 4\pi \epsilon_{0} A

but my prof says that the integral for the delta function should for all values of r that is -infty to +infty. But that would yield an answer of zero for Q. how can there be zero charge enclosed??
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
For your Q you should be doing a volume integral over the entire space. This means that, in spherical coordinates, you need to integrate over r from 0 to infinity, theta from 0 to pi, and phi from 0 to 2pi. And don't forget to include the differential volume element in spherical coordinates as well (see inside front cover of Griffiths and Griffiths Chapter 1).
 
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