Electric potential and field of sphere.

Fabio010
Messages
84
Reaction score
0
In a sphere of radius R the charge density is given by:

p(r) = Q*r/(pi*R^4) , the r is the distance of a generic point to the center of sphere.a) Confirm that the total charge is equal to Q.

b) What is the electric field inside and outside sphere.

c) What is the electric potential inside and outside sphere when the zero potential is considered in infinite and the potential function is continuous in r=R.Attempts:

a) dq = ∫p dV = ∫Q*r/(pi*R^4) dV= Q(pi*R^4)/∫rdV

in spherical coordinates we obtain:

Q/(pi*R^4)∫(0->2pi) ∫(0->pi)∫(0->r) r*r^2*sinθdrd\Phi

Q/(pi*R^4)*(4pi*r^4/4pi)

to have the total charge in sphere r must be = R so

Q/(pi*R^4)*(4pi*R^4/4) = Qb) Inside sphere r < R

so the inner charge is = (Q/R^4)*(r^4)

then by the electric flux

E(4*pi*r^2) = (Q/R^4)*(r^4)*(1/εo) vector E have radial direction

E = (Q/R^4)*(r^2)/(4i*εo) N/COutside sphere r>R

the charge is Q

then by the electric flux

E(4*pi*r^2) = Q/εo

E = Q/(4*pi*r^2*εo) N/Cc) The electric potential outside the sphere is :

r>R

Point 1 = arbitrary point outside sphere
V1(r)-V(∞) = -∫(infinity to r) Q/(4*pi*r^2*εo) dr = Q/(4*pi*r*εo) Vattempt 1:

Point 2 = arbitrary point inside sphere
V2(r)-V(∞) = -∫(infinity to R) Edr (r>R) - ∫(R to r)Edr (r<R) =
= Q/(4*pi*R*εo) - ∫(R to r)(Q/R^4)*(r^2)/(4i*εo)dr ...Can somebody check if the solutions in a and b are correct?. And c, am i proceeding it correctly?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Looks good to me. Does the integration limit "a" stand for R in the last couple of lines?
 
TSny said:
Looks good to me. Does the integration limit "a" stand for R in the last couple of lines?


yes it does.
 
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