Potential from a charge moving at constant velocity

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the electric potential of a point charge moving at a constant velocity, utilizing the retarded potential formula. The key equation derived is the relationship between the retarded time and the spatial coordinates, leading to the potential expression. The participants confirm that the discrepancy in potential calculations arises from neglecting the change of variables in the delta function during the evaluation of the retarded potential integral. This aligns with Griffiths' equations (10.41 and 10.42), establishing a clear connection between the derived expressions and established theoretical frameworks.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric potential and point charge dynamics
  • Familiarity with Griffiths' "Introduction to Electrodynamics" equations
  • Knowledge of retarded potentials and delta functions in electromagnetism
  • Basic proficiency in calculus and differential equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Griffiths' "Introduction to Electrodynamics" for deeper insights on retarded potentials
  • Explore the implications of delta functions in electromagnetic theory
  • Learn about the Lorentz transformation and its effects on electric fields
  • Investigate the mathematical techniques for solving integrals involving delta functions
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Students of electromagnetism, physicists working on classical field theory, and anyone interested in the mathematical foundations of electric potentials in moving charge scenarios.

MisterX
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Homework Statement


Find the electric potential of a point charge with constant velocity ##v##.

Homework Equations


$$V(\mathbf{r}, t) = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \int \frac{\rho\left(\mathbf{r}', t - \frac{| \mathbf{r}- \mathbf{r}'| }{c}\right)}{| \mathbf{r}- \mathbf{r}'|}d^3r' $$

The Attempt at a Solution


We look for the intersection of a lightcone into the past from ##\mathbf{r}, \,t## with a particle with constant velocity
$$\mathbf{r}'(t') = \mathbf{v}t'$$
Solving for the intersection
$$t-t' = \frac{\left|\mathbf{r} - \mathbf{r}'(t')\right|}{c} $$
$$t-t' = \frac{\sqrt{r^2 -2\mathbf{r}\cdot\mathbf{r}(t') + (r'(t'))^2}}{c} = \frac{\sqrt{r^2 -2\mathbf{r}\cdot\mathbf{v}t' + v^2(t')^2}}{c} $$
$$(c^2 - v^2 )(t')^2 +2(\mathbf{r}\cdot\mathbf{v} -c^2t)t' + c^2t^2-r^2 = 0$$
$$t' = \frac{-(\mathbf{r}\cdot\mathbf{v} -c^2t) \pm \sqrt{(\mathbf{r}\cdot\mathbf{v} - c^2t)^2 - (c^2 -v^2)(c^2t^2-r^2 )}}{(c^2 -v^2)} $$
This agrees with (10.41) in Griffiths. However when I used the retarded potential directly, evaluating ## \left|\mathbf{r} - \mathbf{r}'\right|## where##\mathbf{r}'## is at the retarted time ##t'##. I'd expect
$$V(\mathbf{r}, t) = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{\left|\mathbf{r} - \mathbf{r}'(t')\right|} = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{q}{c\left(t -t' \right)}$$
$$= \frac{q}{4\pi c\epsilon_0}\frac{(c^2 -v^2)}{t(c^2-v^2)-(\mathbf{r}\cdot\mathbf{v} -c^2t) + \sqrt{(\mathbf{r}\cdot\mathbf{v} - c^2t)^2 - (c^2 -v^2)(c^2t^2-r^2 )}} $$
However according to (10.42) in Griffith's we should have
$$V(\mathbf{r}, t) = \frac{q}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\frac{c}{\sqrt{(c^2t - \mathbf{r}\cdot\mathbf{v} )^2 + (c^2-v^2)(r^2 - c^2t^2)}} $$
I do see a way that these expressions are equal. I suppose I ignored the change of variables for the delta function when evaluating the retarded potential intergral. Is that really what I'm missing?
$$\rho\left(\mathbf{x}', t'(\mathbf{x}') - \frac{|\mathbf{x} - \mathbf{x}'|}{c} \right) = q\delta\left(\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{v}\left(t'(\mathbf{x}') -\frac{|\mathbf{x} - \mathbf{x}'|}{c}\right)\right) $$
 
Last edited:
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MisterX said:
I suppose I ignored the change of variables for the delta function when evaluating the retarded potential intergral. Is that really what I'm missing?
$$\rho\left(\mathbf{x}', t'(\mathbf{x}') - \frac{|\mathbf{x} - \mathbf{x}'|}{c} \right) = q\delta\left(\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{v}\left(t'(\mathbf{x}') -\frac{|\mathbf{x} - \mathbf{x}'|}{c}\right)\right) $$

Yes, you need to account for the fact that the argument of the delta function is a function of ##\mathbf{x}'##. I'm a little confused with how you are using primes in your notation. Shouldn't ##t'(\mathbf{x}')## just be the present time ##t##? And shouldn't the first ##\mathbf{x}## appearing in the delta function be the integration variable ##\mathbf{x}'##?
 

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