PYL101-Tutorial 2
20-25 January 2024
Electrostatics-Continued
1. Let f (x) be a smooth function of x. Show
X 1
δ(f (x)) = δ(x − xi ) (1)
i
|f (xi )|
where f (xi ) = 0 ∀ i and f ′ (xi ) ̸= 0 ∀ i
dn
2. Show dxn δ(x) = (−1)n n! δ(x)
xn
3. Find the electric field a distance z above the center of a flat circular disk
of radius R , which carries a uniform surface charge σ. What does your
formula give in the limit R → ∞. Also check the case z ≫ R
4. Find the energy stored in a uniformly charged solid sphere of radius R
and charge q. Do it three ways-
a) UsingR potential.
W = 12 ρV dτ
b) Don’tR forget to integrate over all space.
W = ϵ20 E 2 dτ
c) Take Ra spherical Hvolume of radius a. notice what happens as a → ∞.
w = ϵ20 ( V E 2 dτ + S V E . da)
5. Two spherical cavities, of radii a and b, are hollowed out from the interior
of a (neutral) conducting sphere of radius R (Fig). At the center of each
cavity a point charge is placed- call these charges qa and qb
(a) Find the surface charges σa , σb , and σR
(b) What is the field outside the conductor?
(c) What is the field within each cavity?
(d) What is the force on qa and qb
1
(e) Which of these answers would change if a third charge, qc , were
brought near the conductor?
6. Two large metal plates ( each of area A) are held at a distance d apart.
Suppose we put a charge Q on each plate; what is the electrostatic pressure
on the plates?
7. Find the capacitance per unit length of two coaxial metal cylindrical tubes,
of radii a and b.
8. BONUS Problem: Two spheres, each of radius R and carrying uniform
charge densities +ρ and −ρ respectively, are placed so that they partially
overlap. Call the vector from the positive center to the negative center d.
Show the field in the region of overlap is constant, and find its value.
