Help with Griffiths Electrodynamics

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion revolves around solving problems from Griffith's Electrodynamics, specifically problem 5.42 regarding the magnetic force between the hemispheres of a spinning charged spherical shell. The solution involves calculating the magnetic field using the formula B = (2/3)μ₀σRω and determining the force as F = -(2/9)πμ₀σ²R⁴ω². Additionally, participants discuss problem 5.46, which focuses on finding the distance d between two circular current loops to achieve a uniform magnetic field. The solution provided indicates that d = R/2 yields the correct answer as per the textbook.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Griffith's Electrodynamics, specifically problems 5.42 and 5.46
  • Familiarity with magnetic fields and forces in electrodynamics
  • Knowledge of calculus, particularly partial derivatives
  • Basic concepts of electromagnetic theory, including magnetic permeability (μ₀)
NEXT STEPS
  • Review Griffith's Electrodynamics, focusing on examples 5.11 and 5.46
  • Study the derivation of magnetic fields from current loops
  • Explore the implications of uniform magnetic fields in practical applications
  • Investigate advanced topics in electrodynamics, such as Maxwell's equations
USEFUL FOR

Graduate students in physics, particularly those studying electrodynamics, as well as educators and researchers looking for solutions to complex electromagnetic problems.

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I've been brushing up on electrodynamics before I start grad school when I encountered problem 5.42 in Griffith's Electrodynamics. I can get everything correct except the coefficient to work out. Any one know where I can find a solution to this problem?
----------------------------------------
"Not everyone has the book"

I never thought of that. Thanks for the advice. Well,

The problem. A spinning spherical shell with radius "R" and constant charge density "sigma" is rotating with angular velocity "w" in the z direction. What is the magnetic force between the nothern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere (I'm assuming north is on the positive side of the z axis, and south is the negative side of the z axis)?

Thanx
BTW has anyone been looking at the Google problems advertised in the Physical Review?
 
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It might help if you said what the problem is - not everyone would have a copy of that particular text.
 
Problem:

Calculate the magnetic force of attraction between the northern and southern hemispheres of a spinning charged spherical shell. (ex. 5.11)

My Solution:
Look at example 5.11 a the book. It is calculated that the field in the spherical shell is uniform:
B=\frac{2}{3}\mu_0\sigma R \omega
If you displaced the hemispheres by a tiny bit \Delta x
you create a gap of volume \pi R^2 \Delta x
We can assume the field stay more of less uniform. (This is not an approximation when we take the limit later).
So the energy in the field in the gap is: (took me a while to look up the eqn for T, energy density, in SI unit:)
\Delta U=T\times \Delta V=\frac{1}{2}\frac{B^2}{\mu_0}\times \pi R^2 \Delta x
\Delta U=\frac{1}{2}\times\frac{4}{9}\mu_0 \sigma^2 R^4 \omega^w \pi \Delta x
So the force is:
F=-\frac{\Delta U}{\Delta x}=-\frac{2}{9}\pi \mu_0 \sigma^2 R^4 \omega^2

...Interesting, I didn't get the factor of \frac{1}{4} either...
Is this what you got?
 
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Hi, I'm having trouble with part b of problem 5.46 from the same text. Any help would be nice :-D

Problem 5.46: Magnetic field on the axis of a ciruclar current loop is far from uniform (it falls off sharply with increasing z). You can produce a more nearly uniform field by using two such loops a distance d apart.

part b: Find d such that second partial derivative of B with respect to z is zero when z = 0.

I can get it so that the second partial derivative equals zero, but my answer does not match the book's answer.
 
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iMook said:
Hi, I'm having trouble with part b of problem 5.46 from the same text. Any help would be nice :-D

Problem 5.46: Magnetic field on the axis of a ciruclar current loop is far from uniform (it falls off sharply with increasing z). You can produce a more nearly uniform field by using two such loops a distance d apart.

part b: Find d such that second partial derivative of B with respect to z is zero when z = 0.

I can get it so that the second partial derivative equals zero, but my answer does not match the book's answer.
Hey!

Here is my solution:


From a)
Let u be the permeability of free space
B=u*I/2*R^2(1/(R^2+(z+d)^2)^3/2+1/(R^2+(z-d)^2)^3/2)
dB/dz=-3u*I/2*R^2((z+d)/(R^2+(z+d)^2)^5/2+(z-d)/(R^2+(z-d)^2)^5/2)
For simplity let H=(z+d)/(R^2+(z+d)^2)^5/2+(z-d)/(R^2+(z-d)^2)^5/2
when dH/dz=0 is d^2B/dB^2=0
dH/dz=[1/(R^2+(z+d)^2)^5/2+(z+d)*d/dz(1/(R^2+(z+d)^2)^5/2)+
1/(R^2+(z-d)^2)^5/2+(z-d)*d/dz(1/(R^2+(z-d)^2)^5/2)]=...=
[1/(R^2+(z+d)^2)^5/2-5(z+d)^2/(R^2+(z+d)^2)^5/2+1/(R^2+(z-d)^2)^5/2-5(z-d)^2/(R^2+(z-d)^2)^5/2]

Gives
dH/dz(0)=2/(R^2+d^2)^5/2-10d^2/(R^2+d^2)^7/2=0

And d=R/2 ->B(0)=u*I/2*R^2(2/(R^2+1/4R^2)^3/2)=8u*I/(5*sqrt(5)*R) And this equals the answer in my book.

I hope this will help you
 
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Speaking of griffiths - if anyone comes up with a stumper nobody here can solve, he's my current physics prof, and I talk to him on a daily basis. You wouldn't believe how much his writing sounds like his talking :)
 
Ehh, another Reedie :). . .

I'm not too sure David'd be happy to hear of these solution manuals floating around in cyberspace
 
  • #10
Duarh said:
Ehh, another Reedie :). . .

I'm not too sure David'd be happy to hear of these solution manuals floating around in cyberspace

Indeed. I hope most of the tough parts are left "as an exercise for the reader" :)
 
  • #11
How is Griffiths as a prof anyway? It's kind of cool having him be your professor... he's pretty much cornered the undergrad physics textbook market on QM ad E&M I think.

I'm glad John David Jackson is retired though. I wouldn't want to take E&M from him! (That is, if I only wanted a high grade)
 
  • #12
His "Introduction to particle physics" is pretty swell as well.
 
  • #13
He's fun as a prof, explains things in detail and so on, and keeps the informal attitude that's prevalent throughout his books. Sometimes he goes just a bit slow, but I guess that's connected with his wish to be as clear as possible about everything - he does make sure you're grasping what's going on. Funny thing is, though, even though I'm a physics major, I've only really taken what is pretty much a mathematical methods class from him, so I don't know that well what he'd be like in a real physics course. Will find out next year.
 

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