PS 1 – PH 601

Due 20 August, 2024

Problem 1
Prove the following
(a)
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δ(ax) = δ(x) (1)
|a|

(b)
∇f (r − r ′ ) = −∇′ f (r − r ′ ) (2)

(c)
∇ · [A(r) × r] = 0 (3)
in cartesian co–ordinates

(d)
∇ · [A(r) × r] = 0 (4)
using the Levi–Civita symbol

(e) ∇ϕ is always perpendicular to the surface ϕ = constant at any point.

(f)
∇ × ∇ × A = −∇2 A + ∇(∇ · A) (5)

(g) Find the directional derivative of ϕ = x2 yz+4xz 2 at (1, 2, −1) in the direction of the vector C = −2x̂+ŷ+2ẑ.

(h) Find the angle between the surfaces x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 16 and z = x2 + y 2 − 4 at the point (−2, 1, −2).

(i) Show that

(j) If ω is a constant, and v = ω × r, show that

Problem 2

Figure 1:

(a) The dot in the figure above is a charge +Q. Calculate the electric flux through the shaded surface.

(b) A large cube of volume V is made up of many small cubes, as shown in Figure 2. If we add up the fluxes
over all the small volumes, will it add up to the flux over the entire cube? Justify – use diagrams if needed.

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 Figure 2: Figure for Question b .

(c) Let’s say I give you a Poisson equation:

∇2 φ = C0 sinh(x2 + yz)

and the condition at the boundary of the surface of the sphere is: φ(R) = sin(x + 2y + z). Now, you make
a completely random guess about what function φ can be. You plug it in the above Laplace equation, and
it satisfies the equation. It also satisfies φ(R) = sin(x + 2y + z). Can your guess be the solution for the
Laplace equation for this situation? Clearly state the reason and the underlying principle.

(d) Consider a frame S ′ moving with speed v w.r.t. another frame S. A plane electromagnetic wave travels in
the S ′ frame making an angle θ w.r.t. the x′ −axis. The frequency is ν and the wavenumber k. Find the
trnasformation equations for ν and k. Hint: phase is an invariant quantity.

Problem 3
(a) For this situation, what can you say about the potential V (r) in the interior and why? Choose from the
options below.
A. Not much, there are lots of possibilities for V (r) in the interior B. V (r) = 0 everywhere in the interior
C. V (r) = constant everywhere in the interior

Figure 3: Figure for Question a .

Figure 4: Figure for Question b .

(b) A region of space shown in Fig. 4 contains no charges. What can you say about the potential V (r) in the
interior and why? Choose from the options below.
A. Not much, there are lots of possibilities for V (r) in the interior B. V (r) = 0 everywhere in the interior
C. V (r) = constant everywhere in the interior

(c) Can the Uniqueness Theorem be applied to either of the cases in a or b? Why or why not?

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Problem 4: Boundary Value and Other Electrostatic Problems

(a) Using the method of image charges, find the expression for the potential at any point P (x, y, z). Why does
this method work at all? One sentence only, please.

(b) At the surface of the grounded conductor, what is the direction of the electric field?

(c) Using the above, find an expression for the electric field in terms of the potential φ and z at any point on
the grounded conductor, based on your answer above

(d) Now, write the expression for the electric field in terms of the induced surface charge density. Equate this
to the previous expression for the electric field and find the surface density of induced charge

(e) As a cloud passes over a point on the surface of the earth, a vertical electric field of E =100 V/m is
measured. The bottom of the cloud is 300 meters above the ground and the top of the cloud is 600 meters
above the ground. Assume that the cloud has a charge +q at the top and −q at the bottom, and that the
ground is flat. Estimate q. Hint: use method of images.

(f) A linear quadrupole is an arrangement of charges with −2Q at the centre and +Q at 2 points, each a
distance d away on either side such that the 3 charges are in a straight line. Show that for distance much
greater than d, i.e. r ≫ d, the approximate form of the potential is

Qd2
3 cos2 θ − 1


V = 3
(8)
4πϵ0 r

(g) In a spherically shaped volume, an electrostatic potential has the form

C sin θ sin ϕ
V = (9)
r2
where C is a constant. Show that there is no electric charge in the region and find the electric field. Assume
that the centre of the spherical region is the origin. Use spherical polar co-ordinates for simplicity.

(h) Two spherical metal shells of radii a and b have charges Qa and Qb on them respectively. If they are placed
far apart compared to their sizes and connected by a wire, which way will the current flow?