Lecture Slides On Electrostatic Conductors

Lecture 9
Electrostatic Fields in Matter

1. Conductors
Radhika Vathsan, BITS-Goa, 2008

Lecture 9
Electrostatic Fields in Matter

1. Conductors
1 Matter
2 Conductors
Cavities
Examples
Radhika Vathsan, BITS-Goa, 2008

Electrostatics in Matter Matter 1/13
Materials and Electric fields

→
−
So far: E in vacuum.
Matter: consists of charges: will modify the field.

→
−
How?

→
−
How? Depends on the nature of the material.

→
−
1 Conductors: have free charges

• Metals (Gold, aluminum, copper...)
• Electrolytes (ionic solutions)

→
−
1 Conductors: have free charges

• Metals (Gold, aluminum, copper...)
• Electrolytes (ionic solutions)
2 Insulators (Dielectrics) charges are
not free but bound
• Plastic, rubber, paper
• quartz, glass, mud, ceramics
Electrostatics in Matter Conductors 2/13
Characteristics of an ideal Conductor
ä Infinite supply of charges free to move (eg. metals)


→
−
1 E = 0 in the material of a conductor

→
−
• Place a conductor in an
→
−
external E 0 field
E0

→
−
→
−
external E 0 field
E0 +
• the free charges move
−

→
−
→
−
external E 0 field −− +
E
− +
• the free charges move − +
− E=0 ++
• =⇒ induced charges, −
→
− −− + + +
whose field cancels E
everywhere inside.

→
−
→
−
E
− +
− E=0 ++
→
− −− + + +
everywhere inside.
3 Net ρ = 0 inside a conductor
→
−
Gauss’ Law: E = 0

→
−
→
−
E
− +
− E=0 ++
→
− −− + + +
everywhere inside.
→
− → −
− →
Gauss’ Law: E = 0 ⇒ ∇ · E = 0

→
−
→
−
E
− +
− E=0 ++
→
− −− + + +
everywhere inside.
→
− → −
− →
Gauss’ Law: E = 0 ⇒ ∇ · E = 0
⇒ρ=0
4 Any net charge resides on the σouter

surface(s).
=⇒ surface charge density σ.
σinner

surface(s).
σinner
5 A conductor is an equipotential
volume
Constant V in the body, including
all surfaces

surface(s).
σinner
a b
volume
all surfaces
Z b
→ ~
−
Proof: E · dl = Va − Vb = 0.
a
Va = Vb
4 Any net charge resides on the

surface(s).
volume E=0
all surfaces
Z b
→ ~
−
Proof: E · dl = Va − Vb = 0.
a
Va = Vb
−
→
6 E is perpendicular to the surface just outside a conductor.
→
−
Any parallel component of E would produce movement of free
charges till potential difference is zero.
Field just outside the Conductor
• Use Gauss law to calculate

field just outside the surface Conductor
(charge density σ)
dq= σ dA
n

(charge density σ)
dq= σ dA
−
→ σ
E = n̂.
0
n

(charge density σ)
dq= σ dA
−
→ σ
E = n̂.
0
n
−
→
Compare: E due to a sheet of
charge
Charge Distribution on the Surface
If you charge a conductor of irregular shape,

++
+++
++ ++
+ ++
++
the surface charge

+ density is NOT uniform!
+ + • σtip >> σf lat
+
+++
++
+ +
+
the surface charge

+
+++ →
− →
−
++ • E tip >> E f lat
+ +
+
the surface charge

+
+++ →
− →
−
+ + →
−
+ • E can get strong
enough to break down
air around it!
the surface charge

+
+++ →
− →
−
+ + →
−
+ • E can get strong
air around it!
the surface charge

density is NOT uniform!
• σtip >> σf lat
→
− →
−
• E tip >> E f lat
→
−
• E can get strong
air around it!
Application: Field Emission microscope
Why?
Model the pointy conductor as a large
sphere connected to a small one by a R1
R2
wire
Charge Q on one spreads out to the
other till
V1 = V2 = V
Why?
R2
wire
other till
V1 = V2 = V
V V
• E1 = , E2 =
R1 R2
Why?
R2
wire
other till
V1 = V2 = V
V V
• E1 = , E2 =
R1 R2
E1 R2 σ1 R2
• ∴ = ; =
E2 R1 σ2 R1
Electrostatics in Matter Conductors Cavities 7/13
Conductors with cavities
ä A cavity without charges inside a conducting material

• has constant potential and zero field
• has no induced charge density on its surface
E=0

Proof.
→
−
Suppose there is a field E i inside.
E=0

Proof.
→
−
The field lines will originate and terminate on
the cavity surface.

Proof.
L →
−
the cavity surface.
Consider a closed loop L, along a field line in
the cavity.
→ ~
−
I
E · dl 6= 0, violating the curl law.
L

Proof.
L →
−
the cavity surface.
Consider a closed loop L, along a field line in
the cavity.
→ ~
−
I
E · dl 6= 0, violating the curl law.
L
→
−
=⇒ E i = 0, V = const, σi = 0
• If the conductor is charged,

all charge migrates to the outer surface
I
σo da = Q, σi = 0.
outer surface

I
σo da = Q, σi = 0.
outer surface
• If the conductor is placed in an external field,

charge is induced on the outer surface
A point charge and a neutral conducting body will

attract each other!

I
σo da = Q, σi = 0.
outer surface


attract each other!
But Ecavity = 0 always!


I
σo da = Q, σi = 0.
outer surface


attract each other!
But Ecavity = 0 always!
Electrostatic Shielding!!
Electrostatics in Matter Conductors Examples 10/13
Example 1
ä Spherical conductor having arbitrary-shaped cavity with a

point charge q within.
→
−
Question: What are σo , σi ? E everywhere?
q
Example 1

→
−
→
− q r̃ˆ
• q produces E q = ,
4π0 r̃2
where ~r̃ is measured from q.
q
Example 1

→
−
→
− q r̃ˆ
+ + • q produces E q = ,
+ + + 4π0 r̃2
+ +
+ + where ~r̃ is measured from q.
+ __ _ +
_ _ +
+
_ • Induces σi and σo in
+ q _ +
_ →
−
+
+
_ _ __ + conductor, must cancel E
+ + +
+
+ + inside the material.
Example 1

→
−
→
− q r̃ˆ
+ + + 4π0 r̃2
+ +
+ where ~r̃ is measured from q.
+
__ _
+ _ _ +
q _ +
+ _ →
−
+ _ _ __
+ conductor, must cancel E
+
+ + + +
inside the material.
Gauss’ Law =⇒ induced Qi = −q

Example 1

→
−
→
− q r̃ˆ
+ + + 4π0 r̃2
+ +
+ where ~r̃ is measured from q.
+
__ _
+ _ _ +
q _ +
+ _ →
−
+ _ _ __
+ conductor, must cancel E
+
+ + + +
inside the material.
Z Law =⇒ induced Qi = −q
Gauss’ and
Qo = σo da = q
outer surface
Example 1
• σi charge distribution such that the field of q in interior of
the conductor is canceled.
Example 1
Uniqueness Theorem: if you’ve found a solution, it is the
only solution.
Example 1
only solution.
• σi cancels field of q everywhere outside inner surface.
Example 1
only solution.
• No electric field in conductor interior due to σo

Example 1
only solution.

For a sphere, σo uniform achieves this.
Example 1
only solution.

→
− q r̂
• =⇒ E outside = .
4π0 r2
Example 1
only solution.

+
+ + +
→
− q r̂ + +
+
• =⇒ E outside = . + +
4π0 r2 + _ _ +_
+ _ _ +
as of point charge at origin: + _ q _ +
_
location of charge within cavity +
+
_ _ _ _ +
+ + +
+
immaterial + +
Example 2
ä Point charge outside a neutral sphere with cavity

Question: Potential in the cavity?
σo
R
a
q
Example 2

Z
σo
σi = 0 , σo da = 0.
out
But σo not uniform, difficult to R
a
calculate. q
Example 2

Z
σo
σi = 0 , σo da = 0.
out
a
calculate. q
Field due to σo must cancel that
due to q, inside the conductor.
Example 2

Z
σo
σi = 0 , σo da = 0.
out
a
calculate. q
Vat center = Vdue to q + Vdue to σo

Example 2

Z
σo
σi = 0 , σo da = 0.
out
a
calculate. q

q 1
R
= 4π0 a + 4π0 R daσo (~
r)
Example 2

Z
σo
σi = 0 , σo da = 0.
out
a
calculate. q

q 1
R
= 4π0 a + 4π0 R daσo (~
r)
= Vin conductor
= Vinside cavity
Exercise
Two large conducting sheets of area A and of finite thickness,
distance d apart have charges Q1 and Q2 respectively.
Find the surface charge densities and the fields everywhere.
Find the fields if they are briefly connected by a wire.

Lecture Slides On Electrostatic Conductors

Transféré par

Informations du document

Description originale:

Titre original

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Lecture Slides On Electrostatic Conductors

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Lecture 9

Electrostatic Fields in Matter

Radhika Vathsan, BITS-Goa, 2008

Electrostatic Fields in Matter

Radhika Vathsan, BITS-Goa, 2008

Materials and Electric fields

Materials and Electric fields

Materials and Electric fields

Materials and Electric fields

1 Conductors: have free charges

Materials and Electric fields

1 Conductors: have free charges

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

ä Infinite supply of charges free to move (eg. metals)

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

ä Infinite supply of charges free to move (eg. metals)

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

ä Infinite supply of charges free to move (eg. metals)

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

ä Infinite supply of charges free to move (eg. metals)

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

ä Infinite supply of charges free to move (eg. metals)

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

ä Infinite supply of charges free to move (eg. metals)

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

ä Infinite supply of charges free to move (eg. metals)

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

ä Infinite supply of charges free to move (eg. metals)

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

4 Any net charge resides on the σouter

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

4 Any net charge resides on the σouter

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

4 Any net charge resides on the σouter

Characteristics of an ideal Conductor

4 Any net charge resides on the

Field just outside the Conductor

• Use Gauss law to calculate

Field just outside the Conductor

• Use Gauss law to calculate

Field just outside the Conductor

• Use Gauss law to calculate

Charge Distribution on the Surface

If you charge a conductor of irregular shape,

Charge Distribution on the Surface

If you charge a conductor of irregular shape,

Charge Distribution on the Surface

If you charge a conductor of irregular shape,

the surface charge

Charge Distribution on the Surface

If you charge a conductor of irregular shape,

the surface charge

Charge Distribution on the Surface

If you charge a conductor of irregular shape,

the surface charge

Charge Distribution on the Surface

If you charge a conductor of irregular shape,

the surface charge

Charge Distribution on the Surface

If you charge a conductor of irregular shape,

the surface charge

Charge Distribution on the Surface