# Homework Help: Griffiths page 176

1. Mar 16, 2008

### ehrenfest

[SOLVED] Griffiths page 176

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Below example 4.4, Griffiths says "We cannot apply Gauss's law precisely at the surface of a dielectric, for rho_b blows up..."

Why does rho_b blow up?

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Mar 17, 2008

### ehrenfest

anyone?

3. Mar 17, 2008

### clem

That sentence is a bit convoluted, but G is probably referring to bound surface charge density, which corresponds to infinite volume charge density.
If a discussion in GIII confuses you, go back to GI, which has less of that confusing help.

4. Mar 17, 2008

### neelakash

Hello ehrenfest,it is an interesting question and I wonder if I myself understood this point while I read this section a year or two ago.

The problem is with the definition of $$\rho_b=\ - \ div \ P$$ and $$\sigma_b=\ P.n$$.UNDERSTAND that P is determined by $$\sigma_b$$ and $$\rho_b$$

Note that when we say there is a quantity $$\rho_b$$ and another quantity $$\sigma_b$$,we generally do not care if there is any sharp boundary between the charge distributions.I mean we do not say upto 0.005 cm below the surface we would call $$\sigma_b$$ and below that we would call as $$\rho_b$$

As Griffiths gives hint the charge density is expected to be gradually fade out toward the boundary.This makes $$\rho_b$$ a continuous function and hence P is also continuous.POLARIZATION GRADUALLY TAPERS OFF TO ZERO.This exculdes the existence of $$\sigma_b$$

But if there were a sharp boundary like I mentioned, polarization P would be discontinuos across that boundary near (on) the surface and by taking the divergence you will get $$\rho_b=\infty$$.

I hope the problem is now clear to you.

5. Mar 17, 2008

### ehrenfest

I see. So you are saying that a uniformly polarized object of finite size is unphysical.

Last edited: Mar 17, 2008
6. Mar 17, 2008

### Ben Niehoff

Not quite. What he's referring to is that any surface charge distribution can be written as a volume charge distribution by means of delta functions. For example, the surface charge density of a uniformly charged sphere can be written

$$\rho(r, \theta, \phi) = \frac{Q}{4\pi a^2}\delta(r - a)$$

Naturally, this function blows up on the surface itself, just as the charge density (and divergence of E) blows up at a point charge.

7. Mar 17, 2008

### neelakash

I meant not exactly this,but like this.Refer to Griffiths problem 1.45 (b).The derivative of a step function is a delta function.Likewise If there is a distinguishable sharp boundary like between core and cover (jacket) of a body,rho_b must blow up.

In reality you might have a uniform polarized object.But do not be too obsessed with the distinction of rho_b and sigma_b---they are the different faces of the SAME distribution and is not different like core and cover (jacket).

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