DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MADRAS

PH1010 Physics I Problem Set 7 – Solutions

1. The expression for the del operator in cylindrical polar coordinates is

~ = êρ ∂ + êϕ 1 ∂ + êz ∂ .

∇
∂ρ ρ ∂ϕ ∂z
~ we get
Evaluating the divergence of a vector field A,
 
~ ·A
~= ∂A ρ 1 ∂A ϕ ∂A z 1 ∂(êρ Aρ )
∇ + + + êϕ · ,
∂ρ ρ ∂ϕ ∂z ρ ∂ϕ
where the term in the square bracket above is an extra contribution arising due to
variation of the basis vectors with respect to ϕ. Using ∂êρ /∂ϕ = êϕ , we get

~ = 1 ∂(ρAρ ) + 1 ∂Aϕ + ∂Az .

~ ·A
∇
ρ ∂ρ ρ ∂ϕ ∂z

2. A similar analysis leads to the following expressions in spherical polar coordinates.

∇ ~ = 1 ∂ (r2 Ar ) + 1 ∂ (Aθ sin θ) + 1 ∂Aϕ

~ ·A (1)
r2 ∂r r sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂ϕ

3(a). The electric field on a point (x, y, z0 ) in the plane z = z0 is given by

~ 1 q[x êx + y êy + z0 êz ] 1 q[ρ êρ + z0 êz ]

E(x, y, z) = 2 3/2
= .
4π0 2 2
(x + y + z0 ) 4π0 (ρ2 + z02 )3/2

The area element is dS~ = ρdρdϕ êz in cylindrical polar coordinates.

Z ∞
qz0 ∞
Z Z 2π Z
~ ~ qz0 ρdρ
E · dS = ρdρ dϕ 2 3/2
=
plane 0 0
2
4π0 (ρ + z0 ) 20 0 (ρ + z02 )3/2
2

The change of variable ρ = z0 tan θ enables one to do the integration. The result is
Z
~ = q
~ · dS
E
plane 20

3(b). The plane can be completed into a closed surface S by adding the plane z = −z0
and “walls” at infinity. The electric flux vanishes at these walls and by symmetry the
z = −z0 plane provides an contribution equal to that of the z = z0 plane. Thus, one
has Z I
~ ~ 1 ~ = 1 (charge enclosed) = q
~ · dS
E · dS = E
plane 2 S 2 20
in agreement with the result obtained in part (a).

1
 ~ = R dϕ êϕ . Evaluating
4(a). Note that x êy − y êx = ρ êϕ . For circular loops of radius R, dl
the line integral, we get
(
µ0 j0 πR2 for 0 ≤ R ≤ a
I
~ · dl
B ~ = .
µ0 j0 πa2 for R ≥ a

4(b) . Evaluating the curl of the given magnetic field, we get

(
µ0 j0 êz for 0 ≤ ρ ≤ a
~ ×B
∇ ~ = .
0 for ρ ≥ a
Using Stokes’ theorem for the circulation of the magnetic field for a circle of radius R
and the above expression for the curl of the magnetic field, we recover the result of
part (a).
4(c). For an arbitrary magnetic field, we have that the circulation of the magnetic field about
a path C (S is a surface bounded by C)
I Z Z
~ ~
B · dl = ~
curl B · dS = µ0 J~ · dS
~ ~
C S S

~ = µ0 J.
~ But J~ · dS~ is the total current
R
on using Stokes’ theorem followed by curl B S
passing through the surface S thus proving the required statement.
5(a). In a plane, given a closed path C, there is a unique planar surface S that is bounded
by C. Thus, from the definition of curl, it follows that curl of a vector field must be
scalar field in two-dimensions. Further, taking the limit in the definition of curl as in
class, we get
~ = ∂Ay − ∂Ax .
curl A
∂x ∂y
Thus, the planar version of Stokes’ theorem is
I Z  
∂Ay ∂Ax
(Ax dx + Ay dy) = − dxdy .
C S ∂x ∂y
5(b). Applying the above theorem to Ax = y and Ay = −x, we get
I Z
(x dy − y dx) = 2 dxdy = 2 × (area of S)
C S

5(c). x = a cos θ and y = b sin θ implies that dx = −a sin θdθ and dy = b cos θdθ. We then
get
I Z 2π
1
area of ellipse = (x dy − y dx) = ab dθ(sin2 θ + cos2 θ) = πab .
2 C 0

6 Parts (a) and (b) can be proven by applying Stokes’ theorem and Gauss’ divergence
theorem to the vector field ~cΦ, where ~c is a constant vector field. Part (c) is proven by
applying Gauss’ divergence theorem to the vector field ~c × A. ~ Part (d) is obtained by
applying Gauss’ divergence theorem to the vector field (Φ∇Ψ ~ − Ψ∇Φ). ~