Lecture Notes #1 Physics 210A, Winter 2013

Review: Vector Analysis Gradient r = x+ y+ z x y z Divergence r r v v v v = x + y + z x y z r Geometrical interpretation: A measure of how much vector v spreads out (diverges) r from the point in question. Physical example: E Curl

x y z r r v v v v v v = x( z y ) + y( x z ) + z( y x ) v = y x x z y z x y z vx v y vz r Geometrical interpretation: A measure of how much vector v curls around the point in r question. Physical example: B

Gauss' s Theorem :

r r r r ( v )dV = v da
S V

Physical Interpretation of Gausss Theorem: the net outflow across a closed surface is equal to the total divergence inside the volume enclosed by the surface.
Stokes' s Theorem : r r r r r v dl = v da
C S

Physical interpretation of Stokes Theorem: The circulation around a closed path is equal to the flow of the curl across the enclosed area.
The Dirac Delta Function

Definition: ( x ) = 0,

x0

Some properties of (x ) .

( x )dx =1

 ( x) = ( x) x ( x ) = 0 ( ax ) = ( x ) / | a | ( x 2 b 2 ) = [ ( x b) + ( x + b)] / 2 | b |

f ( 0) =

f ( x ) ( x)dx

f ( x0 ) =

f ( x ) ( x x )dx
0

The 3D Delta Function r 3 ( r ) = ( x ) ( y ) ( z )

Chapter 1 Electrostatics
1. Coulombs Law, Gausss Law and the Potential r 1 qQ F= r q: a source charge, which is stationary, Q: a test charge 4 0 r 2

The equation is in SI units where 0 = 8.85 1012 space. r r F = QE r E= q r 4 0 r 2

C2 , called the permitivity of free N m2

r E : Electric field.
1 4 0

r For n point source charges, we have E =

qi

i =1 i

2 i

r.

r E=

1 4 0

r
2

( x ' )dV '

Gausss Law:
r r E =

E da = EdV
S V

r r

1 r r r r 2 ( x ' )dV ' = 0 4 0 r r 1 r Thus, E da = ( x ' )dV '

S

r r r where 2 = 4 3 ( r ) r

r r Gausss law in the differential form: E =

r v E = is the scalar potential. r 1 (1 / r ) r Since ( ) = r = 2 , we have r r r r 1 r 1 r r 1 1 r ( ) ( x ' )dV = E= r 4 r ( x ' )dV ' 4 0 0

v r E = 0

Thus, =

1 4 0

( x' )
r

dV '

2. Poisson and Laplace Equations r r r v From E = and E = , we obtain 2 = (the Poisson equation).

If = 0, then = 0 (the Laplace equation).

2

What is the solution to the Poisson equation in free space? r ( x' ) 1 dV ' = 4 0 r
2 = 1 4 0

( x ' ) ( r ) dV '
2

1 1 1 If r 0, then 2 ( ) = 2 r 2 ( ) = 0 r r r r r If r = 0, we choose an infinitesimal sphere with the center at r = 0 and do volume integral 1 for 2 ( ) . r r r1 r 1 r r r r2 1 2 ( )dV = dV = ( ) da = 2 da = 2 d = 4 V r V S S r S r r r r r r 1 1 Thus, 2 ( ) = 4 3 ( r ) or 2 ( ) = 4 3 ( x x ' ) . r r
3. Electrostatic Potential Energy

Imagine that we want to make an assembly of point charges. How much work is needed to assemble the charges? The 1st charge takes no work. q1 For the 2nd one, W2 = q2 ( r12 ) = q2 4 0 r12
q1 q2 For the 3rd one, W3 = q3 + 4 0 r13 4 0 r23 The total work needed to assemble the first three charges is 1 q1q2 q1q3 q2 q3 1 q1q2 q2 q1 q1q3 q3q1 q2 q3 q3q2 W= r + r + r = 8 r + r + r + r + r + r 4 0 12 13 23 0 12 21 13 31 23 32

r 1 3 1 3 qj 1 3 = qi r = 2 qi ( ri ) 2 i =1 4 0 j =1 ij i =1 j i If we want to assemble an n point charges, the work needed is

r r r 1 n W = qi ( ri ) where ( ri ) is the potential at point ri (the position of qi ) due to 2 i =1 all the other charges. That is how much work it takes to assemble all the point charges. This is also the amount of work you would get if you dismantled the system. In another word, W represents the electrostatic energy stored in the system. 1 For continuous charge distribution, we have W = dV 2 A more general form can be derived by r r 1 W = dV = 0 ( E )dV 2 2 r r r r r r r r By using the relation ( fA)dV = f ( A)dV + A (f )dV = fA da , we have V V V S r r r r W = 0 E da E ( )dV = 0 | E |2 dV S 2 2

The energy density is w =

0
2

| E |2

Electrostatic potential energy of a point charge 0 q2 r 2 drd 1 dr W= = 2 4 r2 = ? 2 ( 4 0 ) r 8 0 0

r r || and E1|| = E2 0 r The normal component of E is discontinuous by an amount at any boundary. 0 r r Thus we have E2 E1 = n . 0 For the potential at the boundary, 1 = 2 , i.e. the potential is continuous. How about the
Electric field across a surface charge : E2 E1 =

4. Boundary Conditions and Greens Theorem

gradient of the potential? r r 2 + 1 = n

r 2 2 = n n 1 2 = 0 n n

Dirichlet and Neumann Boundary Conditions, Greens Theorem

Boundary conditions for the Poisson and Laplace equations.

Dirichlet Boundary Conditions: specification of the potential on a closed surface. Neumann Boundary Conditions: specification of the normal derivative of the potential on a closed surface. We want to show that any solution of the Poisson equation satisfying Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions is unique. George Green (1793 1841) was a British mathematician and physicist, who wrote An Essay on the Application of Mathematical Analysis to the Theories of Electricity and Magnetism (Green, 1828).
Greens Theorem
V S

r r r r v dV = v da

r r Greens first identity: ( + 2 )dV = da n V S r r ( + 2 )dV = da n V S

r r v = r r r r v = + 2 r r r v da = nda = da n

Greens second identity:

( )dV = ( n
2 2 S

)da n

Now we can show the uniqueness of the solution of the Poisson equation inside a volume V, satisfying either Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions on a closed bounding surface. Lets assume that there are two solutions, 1 and 2 satisfying the same boundary conditions. We have U = 1 2
Since 2 1 =

2 2 =

U = 0 on S n r r U With = = U , (U2U + U U )dV = U da V S n 2U = 0 inside V and U = 0 or

| U | dV = 0
2 V

U = 0

1 = 2 + C where C is an inessential constant.