Physics 15b Assignment #2

Read sections 2.1-2.12 of Purcell by Monday February 14.

Q&A questions to be answered on the Physics 15b website before 11pm on Monday,
February 14:

2QA-1. If φ(r) the potential due to two point charges, Q, fixed at (±a, 0, 0), find
Z
dS φ(r) (2QA-1.1)

over a sphere with radius b < a centered at the origin.

A: 0
B: 2πQb2 /a
C: 4πQb2 /a
D: 8πQb2 /a
E: None of the above.

2QA-2. A flat disk with radius r with uniform surface charge density σ is sitting in the x-y plane
centered at the origin. The potential at (r, 0, 0) is equal to the potential at a point (0, 0, b). What is
b?
πr
A:
4
(π 2 − 4)r
B:
4π
C: r
D: None of the above.

In addition, there are some survey questions and feedback questions.

Problems due at the beginning of class on Thursday, February 17 —

2-1. Do problem 2.23 in Purcell:

By means of a van de Graaff generator, protons are accelerated through a potential

difference of 5 × 106 volts. The proton beam then passes through a thin silver foil.
The atomic number of silver is 47, and you may assume that a silver nucleus is so
massive compared with the proton that its motion may be neglected. What is the
closest possible distance of approach, of any proton, to a silver nucleus? What will be
the strength of the electric field acting on the proton at that position?

1
Hint: This one is straightforward. Express your answers in SI units.

2-2. Consider the vector field defined by

F~ (r) = (0, x, 0) (2-2.1)

Note that this is just math — you should not assume that this vector field is an electric field. Find
the line integral Z
d~` · F~ (r) (2-2.2)

along a path from ~r0 = (d, 0, 0) to ~r1 = (0, d, 0)

a. where the path is described by two straight segments, first from (d, 0, 0) to (0, 0, 0) then from
(0, 0, 0) to (0, d, 0).

b. where the path is defined by

~`(θ) = (d cos θ, d sin θ, 0) (2-2.3)

for θ = 0 to π/2.

2-3. Find the electric field and the charge distribution that go with the following potential:

φ = κ r2 for r2 < a2
2κ a3 (2-3.1)
φ = −κ a2 + for a2 ≤ r2
r
√
where r = ~r · ~r and κ is a constant with units of charge per unit volume.

2-4. Find the charge distribution that produces a potential of the following form

φ(r) = k r−3/2 (2-4.1)

Hint: There is a serious mathematical subtlety in the problem, so you should think carefully
about the physics. In particular, you may wish to think carefully about why the electric field has
the direction that it does.