Force on a uniformly charged solid sphere

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the net force on the northern hemisphere of a uniformly charged solid sphere using Maxwell's stress tensor, as outlined in Griffiths Example 8.2. The stress tensor is defined by the equation T_{ij} = \epsilon_{0} (E_{i}E_{j} - \frac{1}{2} \delta_{ij} E^2) + \frac{1}{\mu_{0}} (B_{i}B_{j} - \frac{1}{2} \delta_{IJ} B^2). The participants clarify the conversion of the differential area vector d\vec{a} into spherical coordinates and its projections onto Cartesian axes, leading to the final expression for the force in the Z direction.

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  • Understanding of Maxwell's stress tensor
  • Familiarity with spherical coordinates
  • Knowledge of electric field calculations, specifically for uniformly charged spheres
  • Basic proficiency in vector calculus
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Homework Statement


Griffiths Example 8.2
Determine the net force on the northern hemisphere of a uniformly charged solid sphere of radius R and charge Q. use maxwell's stress tensor to calculate the force. (Not Gauss/Coulomb's law)


Homework Equations


The stress tensor is defined by
T_{ij} = \epsilon_{0} (E_{i}E_{j} - \frac{1}{2} \delta_{ij} E^2) + \frac{1}{\mu_{0}} (B_{i}B_{j} - \frac{1}{2} \delta_{IJ} B^2)
where i and j are coordinates

The Attempt at a Solution


ok For the bowl part
da = R^2 \sin \theta d\theta d\phi \hat{r}

\vec{E} = \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}} \frac{Q}{R^2} \hat{r}

so
T_{zx} = \epsilon_{0} \left(\frac{Q}{4 \pi\epsilon_{0} R^2}\right)^2 \sin \theta \cos\theta \cos\phi

T_{zy} = \epsilon_{0} \left(\frac{Q}{4 \pi\epsilon_{0} R^2}\right)^2 \sin \theta \cos\theta \sin\phi

T_{zz} = \frac{\epsilon_{0}}{2} \left(\frac{Q}{4 \pi\epsilon_{0} R^2}\right)^2 (\cos^2 \theta - \sin^2 \theta)

The net froce is in the Z direction (taking the Z axis to point stragiht up, the flat part of this bowl lying on the XY plane...

(T da)_{z} = T_{zx}da_{x}+T_{zy}da_{y}+T_{zz}da_{z} = \frac{\epsilon_{0}}{2} \left(\frac{Q}{4 \pi\epsilon_{0} R^2}\right)^2 \sin\theta \cos\theta d\theta d\phi

I don't understand what happened in that last step...
... i know this question seems silly... i should know all of this thoroughly in and out at this point...

anyway why does it turn into that??

what are dax and day and daz??
did they convert into spherical coords and then 'expand' ??

thanks for your help
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The projections of the d\vec{a} vector onto the 3 cartesian axis.

He made all multiplications and additions and ended up with that result.

Daniel.
 
dextercioby said:
The projections of the d\vec{a} vector onto the 3 cartesian axis.

He made all multiplications and additions and ended up with that result.

Daniel.

i didnt see it till i actually looks at da and then i saw it

thanks for your help
 

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