# Flux in Through/ Out of Caps Purcell

1. Aug 20, 2012

### schaefera

"Flux in Through/ Out of Caps" Purcell

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
I'm working problem 5.11 in Purcell's E&M book. It's about relativistic particles, and the eventual condition about angles at which the E-field lines are directed. The ultimate goal is to prove that tan($\varphi$)=$\gamma$tan($\theta$).

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
I have solved the integral for the "inner cap's" flux, and got that Flux1=2$\pi$Q(1-cos$\theta$).

The "outer cap" flux is Flux2=2$\pi$Q(1-$\gamma$cot($\varphi$). (This integral might not be correct, though...)

I'm missing a sin($\theta$) somewhere in the first flux, but I don't know where it could be.

Last edited: Aug 20, 2012
2. Aug 20, 2012

### TSny

Re: "Flux in Through/ Out of Caps" Purcell

Your flux through the inner cap looks correct (there is no missing sinθ)

Your expression through the outer cap does not look correct. You would need to show some details of your calculation to spot the error.

3. Aug 20, 2012

### schaefera

Re: "Flux in Through/ Out of Caps" Purcell

Ok, for the second integral, they provide the surface area element as 2$\pi$r$^{2}$sin($\theta$). In the text, they also talk about the electric field of a moving charge as having the value:

E=(Q(1-$\beta$$^{2}$))/(r$^{2}$(1-$\beta$$^{2}$sin($\varphi$)).

Although now that I think about it, these lines would all be perpendicular to the circle centered at the point where the charge would have been had it kept moving, not centered at where it stopped... so when I tried to integrate this in the surface integral, I wouldn't get the right thing I think.

Anyway, when I did evaluate the integral ∫E$\bullet$dA, I ended up needing to integrate 2$\pi$Q(1-$\beta$2) ∫(sin$\varphi$)/(1-$\beta$2sin2($\varphi$)) d$\varphi$

I used the substitution x= -cos($\varphi$) so that dx= sin($\varphi$) d$\varphi$, meaning I then had to integrate 2$\pi$Q(1-$\beta$2)∫ dx/(1-$\beta$2+$\beta$2x2)(3/2) between -1 and -cos($\varphi$)

Doing this, I realize one mistake I made at first, because I end up getting the final answer of 2$\pi$Q(1-(cos$\varphi$)/sqrt(1-$\beta$$^{2}$sin2($\varphi$))).

But when I set these two fluxes equal, I still can't get the tangents in the right places. How do I get the extra factor involving sine-- I feel like it might have to do with my point about the flux being perpendicular to a circle centered at a different point than the "inner cap" circles.

Thanks for the help!!

4. Aug 21, 2012

### TSny

Re: "Flux in Through/ Out of Caps" Purcell

Good. I believe that's what you should get.

Setting the fluxes equal to one another will yield an expression for cosθ in terms of cos$\varphi$ and sin$\varphi$. Use this to derive an expression for sinθ in terms of sin$\varphi$. Then try setting up an expression for tanθ and see if it will simplify.

5. Aug 21, 2012

### schaefera

Re: "Flux in Through/ Out of Caps" Purcell

Ok thank you! I will work on that. Does that mean we don't need to worry about measuring r from where the charge would have been? Also, why should phi be larger than theta? The picture makes it look like theta is larger unless we measure phi from such a location as where the charge would've been.

6. Aug 21, 2012

### TSny

Re: "Flux in Through/ Out of Caps" Purcell

For the spherical cap associated with phi, r is the distance measured from where the charge would have been if it hadn't stopped at t = 0. It has the same meaning as r' in equation 12.
Phi should be larger than theta for the case being studied (where the charge suddenly stops moving). This is also what figure 5.18 shows. Note that segment CD in the figure makes a greater angle to the x-axis than segment AB.

7. Aug 21, 2012

### schaefera

Re: "Flux in Through/ Out of Caps" Purcell

Aha, thank you! I thought it would have to be so for the angle to be larger. That means that in doing what the problem calls the appropriate changing of variables from Eq 12 we implicitly moved the origin for that flux integral?

Thank you so much for the help! Much appreciated!

8. Aug 21, 2012

### TSny

Re: "Flux in Through/ Out of Caps" Purcell

Yes.