Review Questions 281

4. The uniqueness theorem states that if V satisfies Poisson’s or Laplace’s equation and the
prescribed boundary condition, V is the only possible solution for that problem. This
enables us to find the solution to a given problem via any expedient means because we
are assured of one, and only one, solution.
5. The problem of finding the resistance R of an object or the capacitance C of a
capacitor may be treated as a boundary-value problem. To determine R, we assume a
potential difference Vo between the ends of the object, solve Laplace’s equation, find
I 5 eS sE # dS, and obtain R 5 Vo /I . Similarly, to determine C, we assume a poten-
tial difference of Vo between the plates of the capacitor, solve Laplace’s equation, find
Q 5 eS eE # dS, and obtain C 5 Q/Vo.
6. A boundary-value problem involving an infinite conducting plane or wedge may
be solved by using the method of images. This basically entails replacing the charge
configuration by itself, its image, and an equipotential surface in place of the conduct-
ing plane. Thus the original problem is replaced by “an image problem,” which is solved
by using techniques covered in Chapters 4 and 5.
7. The computation of the capacitance of microstrip lines has become important because
such lines are used in microwave devices. Three formulas for finding the capacitance of
a circular microstrip line have been presented.

REVIEW
QUESTIONS
6.1 Equation = # 1 2e=V 2 5 rv may be regarded as Poisson’s equation for an inhomogeneous
medium.
(a) True (b) False
6.2 In cylindrical coordinates, the equation

'2c 1 'c '2c

1 1 1 10 5 0
'r2 r 'r 'z2

is called
(a) Maxwell’s equation (d) Helmholtz’s equation
(b) Laplace’s equation (e) Lorentz’s equation
(c) Poisson’s equation
6.3 Two potential functions V1 and V2 satisfy Laplace’s equation within a closed region and
assume the same values on its surface. V1 must be equal to V2.
(a) True (c) Not necessarily
(b) False
6.4 Which of the following potentials does not satisfy Laplace’s equation?
10
(a) V 5 2x 1 5 (d) V 5
r
(b) V 5 10 xy (e) V 5 r cos f 1 10
(c) V 5 r cos f

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 282 CHAPTER 6 ELECTROSTATIC BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS

6.5 Which of the following is not true?

(a) 25 cos 3x is a solution to fs 1 x 2 1 9f 1 x 2 5 0
(b) 10 sin 2x is a solution to fs 1 x 2 2 4f 1 x 2 5 0
(c) 24 cosh 3y is a solution to Rs 1 y 2 2 9R 1 y 2 5 0
(d) sinh 2y is a solution to Rs 1 y 2 2 4R 1 y 2 5 0
gs 1 x 2 hs 1 y 2
(e) 52 5 f 1 z 2 5 21 where g 1 x 2 5 sin x and h 1 y 2 5 sinh y
g1x2 h1y2
6.6 If V1 5 X1Y1 is a product solution of Laplace’s equation, which of these are not solutions
of Laplace’s equation?
(a) 210X1Y1 (d) X1 1 Y1
(b) X1Y1 1 2xy (e) 1 X1 2 2 2 1 Y1 1 3 2
(c) X1Y1 2 x 1 y
6.7 The capacitance of a capacitor filled by a linear dielectric is independent of the charge on
the plates and the potential difference between the plates.
(a) True (b) False
6.8 A parallel-plate capacitor connected to a battery stores twice as much charge with a
given dielectric as it does with air as dielectric. The susceptibility of the dielectric is
(a) 0 (d) 3
(b) 1 (e) 4
(c) 2
6.9 A potential difference Vo is applied to a mercury column in a cylindrical container.
The mercury is now poured into another cylindrical container of half the radius and the
same potential difference Vo applied across the ends. As a result of this change of space,
the resistance will be increased
(a) 2 times (c) 8 times
(b) 4 times (d) 16 times
6.10 Two conducting plates are inclined at an angle 30! to each other with a point charge
between them. The number of image charges is
(a) 12 (d) 5
(b) 11 (e) 3
(c) 6
Answers: 6.1a, 6.2c, 6.3a, 6.4c, 6.5b, 6.6d,e, 6.7a, 6.8b, 6.9d, 6.10b.

PROBLEMS
Section 6.2—Poisson’s and Laplace’s Equations

6.1 Given V 5 5x3y2z and e 5 2.25eo, find (a) E at point P 1 23, 1, 2 2 , (b) rv at P.
10 cos u sin f
6.2 Let V " and # " #o. (a) Find E at point P(1, 60!, 30!). (b) Determine rv at P.
r2

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 Problems 283

6.3 Conducting sheets are located at y 5 1 and y 5 3 planes. The space between them is
y
filled with a nonuniform charge distribution rv 5 nC/m3 and e 5 4eo. Assuming that
4p
V 1 y 5 1 2 5 0 and V 1 y 5 3 2 5 50 V, find V 1 y 5 2 2 .
6.4 In free space, V 5 10r0.8 V. Find E and the volume charge density at r = 0.6 m.
6.5 A certain material occupies the space between two conducting slabs located at y 562 cm.
When heated, the material emits electrons such that rv 5 50 1 1 2 y2 2 mC/m3. If the slabs
are both held at 30 kV, find the potential distribution within the slabs. Take e 5 3eo.

6.6 Two large flat metal sheets are located at z ! 0 and z ! d and are maintained at 0 and Vo,
respectively. The charge density between the sheets is rv(z) ! roz/d, where ro is a constant.
Determine the potential at all points between the plates.

6.7 In cylindrical coordinates, V ! 0 at r ! 2 m and V ! 60 V at r ! 5 m due to charge

10
distribution rv 5 pC/m3. If "r ! 3.6, find E.
r
6.8 The region between two cylinders r ! a and r ! b has charge density ro. Determine the
potential distribution V.

6.9 The dielectric region (e 5 6eo) between a pair of concentric spheres r ! 1 and r ! 4 has
10
charge distribution rv 5 nC/m3. If V(r 5 1 2 5 0 and V(r 5 4 2 5 50 V, determine
r
V(r ! 2).

6.10 Determine whether each of the following potentials satisfies Laplace’s equation.

(a) V1 5 3xyz 1 y 2 z2
10sinf
(b) V2 5
r
5sinf
(c) V3 5
r
6.11 Given V ! x3y # yz # cz2, find c such that V satifies Laplace’s equation.

6.12 The potential field V 5 2x2yz 2 y3z exists in a dielectric medium having e 5 2eo.
(a) Does V satisfy Laplace’s equation? (b) Calculate the total charge within the unit cube
0 , x , 1 m, 0 , y , 1 m, 0 , z , 1 m.

6.13 Two conducting coaxial cylinders are located at r ! 1 cm and r ! 1.5 cm. The inner conductor
is maintained at 50 V while the outer one is grounded. If the cylinders are separated by a
dielectric material with e 5 4eo, find the surface charge density on the inner conductor.

6.14 Consider the conducting plates shown in Figure 6.30. If V 1 z 5 0 2 5 0 and

V 1 z 5 2 mm 2 5 50 V, determine V, E, and D in the dielectric region 1 er 5 1.5 2 between
the plates and rS on the plates.

6.15 The cylindrical structure whose cross section is in Figure 6.31 has inner and outer radii
of 5 mm and 15 mm, respectively. If V 1 r 5 5 mm 2 5 100 V and V 1 r 5 15 mm 2 5 0 V,
calculate V, E, and D at r 5 10 mm and rS on each plate. Take er 5 2.0.

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 284 CHAPTER 6 ELECTROSTATIC BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS

FIGURE 6.30 For Problem 6.14.

FIGURE 6.31 Cylindrical capacitor of FIGURE 6.32 Conducting cones of

Problem 6.15. Problem 6.20.

6.16 In cylindrical coordinates, V ! 50 V on plane f ! p/2 and V ! 0 on plane f ! 0.

Assuming that the planes are insulated along the z-axis, determine E between the planes.

*6.17 (a) Show that V ! Vo(1$a2/r2) r sin f (where Vo is constant) satisfies Laplace’s equation.
(b) Determine E for r2 %% a2.

6.18 Two conducting planes are located at x ! 0 and x ! 50 mm. The zero voltage reference
is at x ! 20 mm. Given that E ! $110ax V/m, calculate the conductor voltages.

6.19 The region between concentric spherical conducting shells r 5 0.5 m and r 5 1 m is
charge free. If V 1 r 5 0.5 2 5 250 V and V 1 r 5 1 2 5 50 V, determine the potential
distribution and the electric field strength in the region between the shells.

6.20 Find V and E at 1 3, 0, 4 2 due to the two conducting cones of infinite extent shown in
Figure 6.32.

*6.21 The inner and outer electrodes of a diode are coaxial cylinders of radii a 5 0.6 mm and
b 5 30 mm, respectively. The inner electrode is maintained at 70 V, while the outer elec-
trode is grounded. (a) Assuming that the length of the electrodes , W a, b and ignoring
the effects of space charge, calculate the potential at r 5 15 mm. (b) If an electron is
injected radially through a small hole in the inner electrode with velocity 107 m/s, find its
velocity at r 5 15 mm.

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 Problems 285

FIGURE 6.33 For Problem 6.22.

FIGURE 6.34 For Problem 6.23.

6.22 An electrode with a hyperbolic shape 1 xy 5 4 2 is placed above a grounded right-angle

corner as in Figure 6.33. Calculate V and E at point 1 1, 2, 0 2 when the electrode is con-
nected to a 20 V source.
*6.23 Solve Laplace’s equation for the two-dimensional electrostatic systems of Figure 6.34 and
find the potential V 1 x, y 2 .
*6.24 Find the potential V 1 x, y 2 due to the two-dimensional systems of Figure 6.35.
6.25 A conducting strip is defined as shown in Figure 6.35(b). The potential distribution is
npy
sina b
4Vo ` a
V 1 x,y 2 5 a exp 1 2 npx/a 2
p n5odd n

Find the electric field E.

6.26 Figure 6.36 shows the cross-sectional view of an infinitely long rectangular slot. Find the
potential distribution in the slot.

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 286 CHAPTER 6 ELECTROSTATIC BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS

V = V2

V=0
V=0

V = V1

FIGURE 6.35 For Problems 6.24 and 6.25.

x=a
πy
V = Vo sin
b

y=0
V=0 y=b a
Slot
x V=0

y+x=0 V=0

FIGURE 6.36 For Problem 6.26.

6.27 By letting V 1 r, f 2 5 R 1 r 2 ! 1 f 2 be the solution of Laplace’s equation in a region where

r 2 0, show that the separated differential equations for R and ! are
Rr l
Rs 1 2 2R50
r r
and
!s 1 l! 5 0
where " is the separation constant.

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 Problems 287

FIGURE 6.37 For Problem 6.30.

6.28 A potential in spherical coordinates is a function of r and u but not f. Assuming that
V 1 r, u 2 5 R 1 r 2 F 1 u 2 , obtain the separated differential equations for R and F in a region
for which rv 5 0.

Section 6.5—Resistance and Capacitance

6.29 Show that the resistance of the bar of Figure 6.17 between the vertical ends located at
f 5 0 and f 5 p/2 is

p
R5
b
2st ln
a

*6.30 Show that the resistance of the sector of a spherical shell of conductivity s, with cross
section shown in Figure 6.37 1 where 0 # f , 2p 2 , between its base (i.e., from r 5 a to
r 5 b) is

1 1 1
R5 c 2 d
2ps 1 1 2 cos a 2 a b

6.31 A spherical shell has inner and outer radii a and b, respectively. Assume that the shell has
a uniform conductivity s and that it has copper electrodes plated on the inner and outer
surfaces. Show that

1 1 1
R5 a 2 b
4ps a b

*6.32 A hollow conducting hemisphere of radius a is buried with its flat face lying flush with
the earth’s surface, thereby serving as an earthing electrode. If the conductivity of earth
is s, show that the leakage conductance between the electrode and earth is 2pas.

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 288 CHAPTER 6 ELECTROSTATIC BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS

6.33 Another method of finding the capacitance of a capacitor is by using energy consider-
ations, that is,
2WE 1
C5 5 2 3 e 0 E 0 2 dv
V2o Vo
Using this approach, derive eqs. (6.22), (6.28), and (6.32).
6.34 A cylindrical capacitor has inner radius a and outer radius b. The region between the
cylinders has conductivity s. Determine the conductance per unit length of the capacitor.
6.35 A coaxial cable with inner radius a and outer radius b has a steady-state voltage V across
it. Determine the power loss per unit length. Assume that the conductivity of the region
between the cylinders is s.
6.36 In an integrated circuit, a capacitor is formed by growing a silicon dioxide layer 1 er 5 4 2
of thickness 1 mm over the conducting silicon substrate and covering it with a metal elec-
trode of area S. Determine S if a capacitance of 2 nF is desired.
6.37 Calculate the capacitance of the parallel-plate capacitor shown in Figure 6.38.

Depth = 15 cm

εr1 = 3 εr2 = 5 εr3 = 8 2 mm

20 cm 20 cm 20 cm

FIGURE 6.38 For Problem 6.37.

FIGURE 6.39 For Problem 6.38.

ε0 ε0εr ε0

0 a 2a 3a x

FIGURE 6.40 For Problem 6.39.

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 Problems 289

FIGURE 6.41 For Problem 6.41.

6.38 A capacitor consists of two infinitely large plates of area A and 3a apart as shown in Figure
6.39. If a dielectric slab of thickness a is located midway between the plates, determine the
capacitance.
6.39 The parallel-plate capacitor of Figure 6.40 is quarter-filled with mica 1 er 5 6 2 . Find the
capacitance of the capacitor.
6.40 To appreciate the physical size of 1 F capacitor, consider a parallel-plate capacitor filled
with air and with separation distance of 1 mm. Find the area of the plates to provide a
capacitance of 1 F.
*6.41 An air-filled parallel plate capacitor of length L, width a, and plate separation d has its plates
maintained at constant potential difference Vo. If a dielectric slab of dielectric constant "r is
slid between the plates and is withdrawn until only a length x remains between the plates
as in Figure 6.41, show that the force tending to restore the slab to its original position is

eo 1 er 2 1 2 a V2o
F5
2d

6.42 A parallel-plate capacitor has plate area 200 cm2 and plate separation of 3 mm. The
charge density is 1 mC/m2 and air is the dielectric. Find
(a) The capacitance of the capacitor
(b) The voltage between the plates
(c) The force with which the plates attract each other
6.43 The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor is 56 mF when the dielectric material is in
place. The capacitance drops to 32 mF when the dielectric material is removed. Calculate
the dielectric constant "r of the material.
6.44 A parallel-plate capacitor has a 4 mm plate separation, 0.5 m2 surface area per plate, and
a dielectric with "r ! 6.8. If the plates are maintained at 9 V potential difference, calculate
(a) the capacitance, (b) the charge density on each plate.
6.45 A parallel-plate capacitor remains connected to a voltage source while the separation
between the plates changes from d to 3d. Express new values of C, Q, E, and W in terms
of the old values C0, Q0, E0, and W0.
6.46 A parallel-plate capacitor has plate area 40 cm2. The dielectric has two layers with permit-
tivity e1 5 4eo and e2 5 6eo, and each layer is 2 mm thick. If the capacitor is connected
to a voltage 12 V, calculate: (a) the capacitance of the capacitor, (b) the total charge on
each plate, (c) the values of E, D, and P.
6.47 The space between spherical conducting shells r 5 5 cm and r 5 10 cm is filled with a
dielectric material for which e 5 2.25eo. The two shells are maintained at a potential dif-
ference of 80 V. (a) Find the capacitance of the system. (b) Calculate the charge density
on shell r 5 5 cm.

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 290 CHAPTER 6 ELECTROSTATIC BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS

b
π/4

0 a b x

FIGURE 6.42 For Problem 6.49. FIGURE 6.43 For Problem 6.52.

6.48 A spherical capacitor has inner radius d and outer radius a. Concentric with the spherical
conductors and lying between them is a spherical shell of outer radius c and inner radius
b. If the regions d , r , c, c , r , b, and b , r , a are filled with materials with per-
mittivities "1, "2, and "3, respectively, determine the capacitance of the system.
6.49 Determine the capacitance of a conducting sphere surrounded by a thick spherical shell
as shown in Figure 6.42.
6.50 The coaxial cable in Figure 6.14 has two dielectrics with «r1 for a & r & c and «r2 for
c & r & b where a & c & b. Determine the capacitance of the system.
6.51 A coaxial cable has inner radius of 5 mm and outer radius of 8 mm. If the cable is 3 km
long, calculate its capacitance. Assume " ! 2.5"o.
6.52 A capacitor consists of two plates with equal width (b $ a), and a length L in the
z-direction. The plates are separated by f ! p/4, as shown in Figure 6.43. Assume that
the plates are separated by a dielectric material (" ! "o"r) and ignore fringing. Determine
the capacitance.
6.53 A segment of the cylindrical capacitor is defined by r1 , r , r2, 0 , f , a. If
V(f 5 0 2 5 0 and V(f 5 a 2 5 Vo , show that the capacitance of the segment is
eL r
C 5 lna 2 b, where L is the length and « is the permittivity of the dielectric.
a r1

*6.54 In an ink-jet printer the drops are charged by surrounding the jet of radius 20 mm with a
concentric cylinder of radius 600 mm as in Figure 6.44. Calculate the minimum voltage
required to generate a charge 50 fC on the drop if the length of the jet inside the cylinder
is 100 mm. Take e 5 eo.
6.55 The cross section of a cable is shown in Figure 6.45. Determine the capacitance per unit
length.

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 Problems 291

ε2

ε1

a
D
c

oir b

FIGURE 6.44 Simplified geometry of an

ink-jet printer; for Problem 6.54. FIGURE 6.45 For Problem 6.55.

FIGURE 6.46 For Problem 6.57.

ε1

b
ε2

6.56 A spherical capacitor has inner radius of a = 2 cm and outer radius of b = 4 cm. The inte-
rior is a dielectric material with «o «r . The outer conductor is grounded while the inner
one is maintained at 100 V. (a) Determine «r if the surface charge density on the inner
conductor is 400 nC/m2. (b) Find the capacitance of the structure.
6.57 One half of the dielectric region of a spherical capacitor has permittivity «1 while the other
half has « as shown in Figure 6.46. Show that the capacitance of the system is given by
2p(e1 1 e2)ab
C5
b2a
*6.58 A spherical capacitor has an inner conductor of radius a carrying charge Q and is main-
tained at zero potential. If the outer conductor contracts from a radius b to c under internal
forces, prove that the work performed by the electric field as a result of the contraction is

Q2 1 b 2 c 2
W5
8pebc

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 292 CHAPTER 6 ELECTROSTATIC BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS

*6.59 A parallel-plate capacitor has its plates at x 5 0, d and the space between the plates is
x
filled with an inhomogeneous material with permittivity e 5 eo a1 1 b. If the plate at
d
x 5 d is maintained at Vo while the plate at x 5 0 is grounded, find:
(a) V and E
(b) P
(c) rPs at x 5 0, d
(d) the capacitance, assuming that each plate has area S

6.60 Two parallel conducting plates are located at x ! d and x ! $d. The plate at x ! d is held
at Vo, while the plate at x ! $d is grounded. If the space between the plates is filled with
an inhomogeneous dielectric medium with

2eo
e5
x 2
11a b
d

find the capacitance. Assume that each plate has an area S.

6.61 A spherical capacitor has inner radius a and outer radius b and is filled with an inhomo-
geneous dielectric with e 5 eok/r2. Show that the capacitance of the capacitor is

4peok
C5
b2a

6.62 If the earth is regarded as a spherical capacitor, what is its capacitance? Assume the radius
of the earth to be approximately 6370 km.
6.63 A capacitor is formed by two coaxial metal cylinders of radii a ! 1 mm and b ! 5 mm. If
the space between the cylinders is filled with a dielectric having er 5 3 1 1 1 r 2 , a & r & b,
and r is in millimeters, determine the capacitance per meter.
6.64 A two-wire transmission line is formed with two identical wires which are widely sepa-
rated. If the radius of each wire is a and the center-to-center spacing is D, the approximate
formula for the capacitance per unit length is
pe
C5
D2a
lna b
a

where D %% a. For " = 4"o and D/a = 12, calculate C.

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 Problems 293

Section 6.6—Method of Images

6.65 A 10-nC point charge is located at point (0, 0, 10 m) above a grounded conducting plane
z ! 0. (a) Find the surface charge density at point (2, –4, 0). (b) Calculate the total charge
on the plate.
6.66 Two point charges of 3 nC and 24 nC are placed, respectively, at 1 0, 0, 1 m 2 and
1 0, 0, 2 m 2 while an infinite conducting plane is at z 5 0. Determine
(a) The total charge induced on the plane
(b) The magnitude of the force of attraction between the charges and the plane
*6.67 A point charge of 10 mC is located at 1 1, 1, 1 2 and the positive portions of the coordinate
planes are occupied by three mutually perpendicular plane conductors maintained at zero
potential. Find the force on the charge due to the conductors.
6.68 A point charge Q is placed between two earthed intersecting conducting planes that are
inclined at 45' to each other. Determine the number of image charges and their locations.
6.69 Infinite line x 5 3, z 5 4 carries 16 nC/m and is located in free space above the
conducting plane z 5 0. (a) Find E at 1 2, 22, 3 2 . (b) Calculate the induced surface charge
density on the conducting plane at 1 5, 26, 0 2 .
6.70 In free space, infinite planes y 5 4 and y 5 8 carry charges 20 nC/m2 and 30 nC/m2,
respectively. If plane y 5 2 is grounded, calculate E at P 1 0, 0, 0 2 and Q 1 24, 6, 2 2 .

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