Understanding the Force on a Charged Hemisphere Using the Stress Tensor

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on a problem from Griffiths' book regarding the force on the northern hemisphere of a charged sphere using the stress tensor. The user is struggling with the calculation of the dot product involving the stress tensor components and the area element, specifically obtaining a cos^3 term instead of the expected cos term. Clarification is sought on the correct tensor components, leading to a realization that there may have been an error in copying them. The importance of verifying tensor components before proceeding with calculations is emphasized, highlighting common pitfalls in such problems. The conversation underscores the need for careful attention to detail in tensor calculus.
Dathascome
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I'm having some trouble with an example in griffiths book about using the stress tensor. The problem is to find the force on the northern hemisphere of a uniformly charged solid sphere by the southern hemisphere. Charge Q, radius R. I understand that we will only need the zx, zy, and zz components of the tensor, and I can get those without a problem. The problem I have is with taking (\vec(T) \cdot \vec(da))_z( sorry I don't know how to right T as a tensor and not a vector). In the book they get (\vec(T) \cdot \vec(da))_z=\epsilon_o/2\((Q/4\pi\epsilon_0R)^2\sin(\theta)cos(\theta)d\theta\ d\phi

Where as I'm getting a cos ^3 instead of just a cos, and I can't see why.
I know that da=R^2sin(\theta)d\theta d\phi \hat{r}
where \hat{r}=sin(\theta)cos(\phi)\hat{x}+sin(\theta)sin(\phi)\hat{y}+cos(\theta)\hat{z}and that \epsilon_o/2\((Q/4\pi\epsilon_0R)^2
along with
\vec(T)_z_x=\epsilon_o/2\((Q/4\pi\epsilon_0R)^2sin(\theta)cos(\theta)cos(\phi)
\vec(T)_z_y=\epsilon_o/2\((Q/4\pi\epsilon_0R)^2sin(\theta)cos(\theta)sin(\phi)
\vec(T)_z_y=\epsilon_o/2\((Q/4\pi\epsilon_0R)^2(cos(\theta)^2+sin(\theta)^2)

So I take the dot product of each T_zx with da_x and the same with the other components but I don't cos, I get cos^3 for some reason.
Any help would be greatly appreciated...hope this wasn't too confusing o:)
 
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Just wanted to bump this back up...I messed up and hit submit before finishing. I hope someone really reads it this time :frown:
 
Are you sure you copied the tensor components correctly? In my book there is only an \epsilon_0/2 in front of Tzz. The other components just have an \epsilon_0.
 
Doh...I think I did copy it wrong...let me do it over and see what happens.
Usually it's the first thing I check...I hate making stupid mistakes like that :mad:
 
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