Jennifer Byford ECE305 - Homework Example May 16, 2025

A uniformly charged dielectric gel having charge density ρv = ρo and dielectric constant of
ϵr = 2 is enclosed inside a dielectric shell with dielectric constant of ϵr = 5 as shown in the
figure. The dielectric shell is surrounded by free space (ϵr = 1). Determine E, Φ, D, P in all
regions.

Figure 1: Given scenario.

In this problem we can consider there to be 3 regions, (1) r < a, (2) a ≤ r < b, and (3) r ≥ b.
For finding the electric flux density Gauss’s Law provides the most straight forward solution.
Then, using the constitutive relation between electric flux density and electric field, E⃗ can
⃗
be found. Thereafter P and Φ are directly related to E. ⃗

Electric Flux Density:

I
⃗ · n̂ = Qen
D
S
Z π Z 2π
Dr r2 sinθdϕdθ = Qen
0 0
4πr2 Dr = Qen

Region 1
Z π Z 2π Z r
Qen = ρo r2 sinθdrdϕdθ
0 0 0
4πρo r3
Qen =
3
4πρo r3
4πr2 Dr =
3
⃗ = ρo r 3
D
3r2
⃗ = ρo r
D r̂ C/m2
3

1
Jennifer Byford ECE305 - Homework Example May 16, 2025

Region 2 and 3
Z π Z 2π Z a
Qen = ρo r2 sinθ drdϕdθ
0 0 0
3
4πρo a
Qen =
3
3
4πρ oa
4πr2 Dr =
3
3
ρ a
⃗ = o r̂ C/m2
D
3r2
Electric Field:
⃗ = ϵE
D ⃗

⃗ = 1D
E ⃗
ϵ
⃗ = 1 D
E ⃗
ϵo ϵr
Region 1

⃗ = 1 D
E ⃗
ϵo ϵr
⃗ = 1 ρo r
E
ϵo ϵr 3
⃗ = 1 ρo r r̂ V /m
E
2ϵo 3
Region 2

⃗ = 1 D
E ⃗
ϵo ϵr
3
⃗ = 1 ρo a
E
ϵo ϵr 3r2
3
⃗ = 1 ρo a r̂ V /m
E
5ϵo 3r2
Region 3

⃗ = 1 D
E ⃗
ϵo ϵr
⃗ 1 ρ o a3
E=
ϵo ϵr 3r2
3
⃗ = 1 ρo a r̂ V /m
E
ϵo 3r2
Electric Polarization:
P⃗ = (ϵr − 1)ϵo E
⃗

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Jennifer Byford ECE305 - Homework Example May 16, 2025

Region 1

P⃗ = (ϵr − 1)ϵo E ⃗
1 ρo r
P⃗ = (2 − 1) ϵo
2
ϵo 3
1 ρo r
P⃗ =
2 3
⃗ ρo r
P = r̂ C/m2
6
Region 2

P⃗ = (ϵr − 1)ϵo E ⃗
1 ρo a3
P⃗ = (5 − 1) ϵo
ϵo 3r2
5
3
4 ρo a
P⃗ =
5 3r2
4ρo a3
P⃗ = 2
r̂ C/m2
15r
Region 3

P⃗ = (ϵr − 1)ϵo E
⃗
P⃗ = (1 − 1)ϵo E
⃗
P⃗ = 0r̂ C/m2

Electric Potential:
Z r
Φ=− ⃗ · dl
E
∞
Region 3
Z r
Φ=− ⃗ 3 · dl
E
Z∞r
1 ρ o a3
Φ=− 2
r̂ · r̂dr
∞ ϵo 3r
ρ o a3 r 1
Z
Φ=− dr
3ϵo ∞ r2
 r
ρ o a3 1
Φ=− −
3ϵo r ∞
3
ρo a
Φ=
3ϵo r
ρ o a3
Φ= V
3ϵo r

3
Jennifer Byford ECE305 - Homework Example May 16, 2025

Region 2
Z r
Φ=− ⃗ · dl
E
∞
Z b Z r
Φ=− ⃗ 3 · dl −
E E⃗ 2 · dl
∞ b
Z b Z r
1 ρ o a3 1 ρ o a3
Φ=− 2
r̂ · r̂dr − 2
r̂ · r̂dr
∞ ϵo 3r b 5ϵo 3r
ρo a3 b 1 ρ o a3 r 1
Z Z
Φ=− dr − dr
3ϵo ∞ r2 15ϵo b r2
 b  r
ρo a3 1 ρo a3 1
Φ=− − − −
3ϵo r ∞ 15ϵo r b
3 3
 
ρo a 1 ρo a 1 1
Φ= + −
3ϵo b 15ϵo r b
ρ o a3 ρ o a3 ρ o a3
Φ= + − V
3ϵo b 15ϵo r 15ϵo b
Region 1
Z r
Φ=− ⃗ · dl
E
∞
Z b Z a Z r
Φ=− ⃗ 3 · dl −
E ⃗
E2 · dl − ⃗ 1 · dl
E
∞ b a
Z b Z a Z r
1 ρ o a3 1 ρ o a3 1 ρo r
Φ=− 2
r̂ · r̂dr − 2
r̂ · r̂dr − r̂ · r̂dr
∞ ϵo 3r b 5ϵo 3r a 2ϵo 3
ρo a3 b 1 ρ o a3 a 1 ρo r
Z Z Z
Φ=− dr − dr − rdr
3ϵo ∞ r2 15ϵo b r2 6ϵo a
 b  a  r
ρo a3 1 ρ o a3 1 ρo r 2
Φ=− − − − −
3ϵo r ∞ 15ϵo r b 6ϵo 2 a
ρ o a3 1 ρ o a3 1 1
 
ρo  2
r − a2

Φ= + − −
3ϵo b 15ϵo a b 12ϵo
3 3 3
ρo a ρo a ρo a ρo r2 ρo a2
Φ= + − − +
3ϵo b 15ϵo a 15ϵo b 12ϵo 12ϵo
ρ o a3 ρ o a2 ρo a3 ρ o r 2 ρ o a2
Φ= + − − +
3ϵo b 15ϵo 15ϵo b 12ϵo 12ϵo
ρ o a2 a ρ o a3 r2
   
1 1
Φ= + + − + V
ϵo 3b 15 12 ϵo 15b 12

Final Answer Summary:

4
Jennifer Byford ECE305 - Homework Example May 16, 2025

Region 1 (r < a) Region 2 (a ≤ r < b) Region 3 (r ≥ b)

⃗ (C/m ) 2 ρo r ρo a3 ρo a3
D 3
r̂ 3r2
r̂ 3r2
r̂
⃗ (V /m) ρo r 1 ρo a3 1 ρo a3
E 6ϵo
r̂ 5ϵo 3r2
r̂ ϵo 3r2
r̂
4ρo a3
P⃗ (C/m2 ) ρo r
6
r̂ 15r2
r̂ 0r̂
ρo a2
a 1 1
 ρo h a3 r2
i
ρo a3 ρo a3 ρo a3 ρo a3
Φ (V ) ϵo 3b
+ 15 + 12 − ϵo 15b + 12 3ϵo b
+ 15ϵo r − 15ϵ ob 3ϵo r