CHAPTER 6.

6.1 Construct a curvilinear square map for a coaxial capacitor of 3-cm inner radius and 8-cm outer radius.
These dimensions are suitable for the drawing.
a) Use your sketch to calculate the capacitance per meter length, assuming
R
= 1: The sketch is
shown below. Note that only a 9

sector was drawn, since this would then be duplicated 40 times

around the circumference to complete the drawing. The capacitance is thus
C
.
=
0
N
Q
N
V
=
0
40
6
= 59 pF/m
b) Calculate an exact value for the capacitance per unit length: This will be
C =
2
0
ln(8/3)
= 57 pF/m
84
6.2 Construct a curvilinear-square map of the potential eld about two parallel circular cylinders, each of
2.5 cm radius, separated by a center-to-center distance of 13cm. These dimensions are suitable for the
actual sketch if symmetry is considered. As a check, compute the capacitance per meter both from your
sketch and from the exact formula. Assume
R
= 1.
Symmetry allows us to plot the eld lines and equipotentials over just the rst quadrant, as is done in the
sketch below (shown to one-half scale). The capacitance is found from the formula C = (N
Q
/N
V
)
0
,
where N
Q
is twice the number of squares around the perimeter of the half-circle and N
V
is twice the
number of squares between the half-circle and the left vertical plane. The result is
C =
N
Q
N
V

0
=
32
16

0
= 2
0
= 17.7 pF/m
We check this result with that using the exact formula:
C =

0
cosh
1
(d/2a)
=

0
cosh
1
(13/5)
= 1.95
0
= 17.3 pF/m
85
6.3. Construct a curvilinear square map of the potential eld between two parallel circular cylinders, one
of 4-cm radius inside one of 8-cm radius. The two axes are displaced by 2.5 cm. These dimensions
are suitable for the drawing. As a check on the accuracy, compute the capacitance per meter from the
sketch and from the exact expression:
C =
2
cosh
1
_
(a
2
+b
2
D
2
)/(2ab)
_
where a and b are the conductor radii and D is the axis separation.
The drawing is shown below. Use of the exact expression above yields a capacitance value of C =
11.5
0
F/m. Use of the drawing produces:
C
.
=
22 2
4

0
= 11
0
F/m
86
6.4. A solid conducting cylinder of 4-cm radius is centered within a rectangular conducting cylinder with a
12-cm by 20-cm cross-section.
a) Make a full-size sketch of one quadrant of this conguration and construct a curvilinear-square
map for its interior: The result below could still be improved a little, but is nevertheless sufcient
for a reasonable capacitance estimate. Note that the ve-sided region in the upper right corner has
been partially subdivided (dashed line) in anticipation of how it would look when the next-level
subdivision is done (doubling the number of eld lines and equipotentials).
b) Assume =
0
and estimate C per meter length: In this case N
Q
is the number of squares around
the full perimeter of the circular conductor, or four times the number of squares shown in the
drawing. N
V
is the number of squares between the circle and the rectangle, or 5. The capacitance
is estimated to be
C =
N
Q
N
V

0
=
4 13
5

0
= 10.4
0
.
= 90 pF/m
87
6.5. The inner conductor of the transmission line shown in Fig. 6.12 has a square cross-section 2a 2a,
while the outer square is 5a 5a. The axes are displaced as shown. (a) Construct a good-sized
drawing of the transmission line, say with a = 2.5 cm, and then prepare a curvilinear-square plot of
the electrostatic eld between the conductors. (b) Use the map to calculate the capacitance per meter
length if = 1.6
0
. (c) How would your result to part b change if a = 0.6 cm?
a) The plot is shown below. Some improvement is possible, depending on howmuch time one wishes
to spend.
b) From the plot, the capacitance is found to be
C
.
=
16 2
4
(1.6)
0
= 12.8
0
.
= 110 pF/m
c) If a is changed, the result of part b would not change, since all dimensions retain the same relative
scale.
88
6.6. Let the inner conductor of the transmission line shown in Fig. 6.12 be at a potential of 100V, while the
outer is at zero potential. Construct a grid, 0.5a on a side, and use iteration to nd V at a point that is
a units above the upper right corner of the inner conductor. Work to the nearest volt:
The drawing is shown below, and we identify the requested voltage as 38 V.
89
6.7. Use the iteration method to estimate the potentials at points x and y in the triangular trough of Fig.
6.13. Work only to the nearest volt: The result is shown below. The mirror image of the values shown
occur at the points on the other side of the line of symmetry (dashed line). Note that V
x
= 78 V and
V
y
= 26 V.
90
6.8. Use iteration methods to estimate the potential at point x in the trough shown in Fig. 6.14. Working to
the nearest volt is sufcient. The result is shown below, where we identify the voltage at x to be 40 V.
Note that the potentials in the gaps are 50 V.
6.9. Using the grid indicated in Fig. 6.15, work to the nearest volt to estimate the potential at point A: The
voltages at the grid points are shown below, where V
A
is found to be 19 V. Half the gure is drawn
since mirror images of all values occur across the line of symmetry (dashed line).
91
6.10. Conductors having boundaries that are curved or skewed usually do not permit every grid point to
coincide with the actual boundary. Figure 6.16a illustrates the situation where the potential at V
0
is to
be estimated in terms of V
1
, V
2
, V
3
, and V
4
, and the unequal distances h
1
, h
2
, h
3
, and h
4
.
a) Show that
V
0
.
=
V
1
_
1 +
h
1
h
3
_ _
1 +
h
1
h
3
h
4
h
2
_ +
V
2
_
1 +
h
2
h
4
_ _
1 +
h
2
h
4
h
1
h
3
_ +
V
3
_
1 +
h
3
h
1
_ _
1 +
h
1
h
3
h
4
h
2
_
+
V
4
_
1 +
h
4
h
2
_ _
1 +
h
4
h
2
h
3
h
1
_ note error, corrected here, in the equation (second term)
Referring to the gure, we write:
V
x

M
1
.
=
V
1
V
0
h
1
V
x

M
3
.
=
V
0
V
3
h
3
Then

2
V
x
2

V
0
.
=
(V
1
V
0
)/h
1
(V
0
V
3
)/h
3
(h
1
+h
3
)/2
=
2V
1
h
1
(h
1
+h
3
)
+
2V
3
h
3
(h
1
+h
3
)

2V
0
h
1
h
3
We perform the same procedure along the y axis to obtain:

2
V
y
2

V
0
.
=
(V
2
V
0
)/h
2
(V
0
V
4
)/h
4
(h
2
+h
4
)/2
=
2V
2
h
2
(h
2
+h
4
)
+
2V
4
h
4
(h
2
+h
4
)

2V
0
h
2
h
4
Then, knowing that

2
V
x
2

V
0
+

2
V
y
2

V
0
= 0
the two equations for the second derivatives are added to give
2V
1
h
1
(h
1
+h
3
)
+
2V
2
h
2
(h
2
+h
4
)
+
2V
3
h
3
(h
1
+h
3
)
+
2V
4
h
4
(h
2
+h
4
)
= V
0
_
h
1
h
3
+h
2
h
4
h
1
h
2
h
3
h
4
_
Solve for V
0
to obtain the given equation.
b) Determine V
0
in Fig. 6.16b: Referring to the gure, we note that h
1
= h
2
= a. The other two
distances are found by writing equations for the circles:
(0.5a +h
3
)
2
+a
2
= (1.5a)
2
and (a +h
4
)
2
+(0.5a)
2
= (1.5a)
2
These are solved to nd h
3
= 0.618a and h
4
= 0.414a. The four distances and potentials are now
substituted into the given equation:
V
0
.
=
80
_
1 +
1
.618
_ _
1 +
.618
.414
_ +
60
_
1 +
1
.414
_ _
1 +
.414
.618
_ +
100
(1 +.618)
_
1 +
.618
.414
_
+
100
(1 +.414)
_
1 +
.414
.618
_ = 90 V
92
6.11. Consider the conguration of conductors and potentials shown in Fig. 6.17. Using the method described
in Problem 10, write an expression for V
x
(not V
0
): The result is shown below, where V
x
= 70 V.
6.12a) After estimating potentials for the conguation of Fig. 6.18, use the iteration method with a square grid
1 cm on a side to nd better estimates at the seven grid points. Work to the nearest volt:
25 50 75 50 25
0 48 100 48 0
0 42 100 42 0
0 19 34 19 0
0 0 0 0 0
b) Construct a 0.5 cm grid, establish new rough estimates, and then use the iteration method on the
0.5 cmgrid. Again, work to the nearest volt: The result is shown below, with values for the original
grid points underlined:
25 50 50 50 75 50 50 50 25
0 32 50 68 100 68 50 32 0
0 26 48 72 100 72 48 26 0
0 23 45 70 100 70 45 23 0
0 20 40 64 100 64 40 20 0
0 15 30 44 54 44 30 15 0
0 10 19 26 30 26 19 10 0
0 5 9 12 14 12 9 5 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
93
6.12c. Use the computer to obtain values for a 0.25 cm grid. Work to the nearest 0.1 V: Values for the left
half of the conguration are shown in the table below. Values along the vertical line of symmetry are
included, and the original grid values are underlined.
25 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 75
0 26.5 38.0 44.6 49.6 54.6 61.4 73.2 100
0 18.0 31.0 40.7 49.0 57.5 67.7 81.3 100
0 14.5 27.1 38.1 48.3 58.8 70.6 84.3 100
0 12.8 24.8 36.2 47.3 58.8 71.4 85.2 100
0 11.7 23.1 34.4 45.8 57.8 70.8 85.0 100
0 10.8 21.6 32.5 43.8 55.8 69.0 83.8 100
0 10.0 20.0 30.2 40.9 52.5 65.6 81.2 100
0 9.0 18.1 27.4 37.1 47.6 59.7 75.2 100
0 7.9 15.9 24.0 32.4 41.2 50.4 59.8 67.2
0 6.8 13.6 20.4 27.3 34.2 40.7 46.3 49.2
0 5.6 11.2 16.8 22.2 27.4 32.0 35.4 36.8
0 4.4 8.8 13.2 17.4 21.2 24.4 26.6 27.4
0 3.3 6.6 9.8 12.8 15.4 17.6 19.0 19.5
0 2.2 4.4 6.4 8.4 10.0 11.4 12.2 12.5
0 1.1 2.2 3.2 4.2 5.0 5.6 6.0 6.1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
94
6.13. Perfectly-conducting concentric spheres have radii of 2 and 6 cm. The region 2 < r < 3 cm is lled
with a solid conducting material for which = 100 S/m, while the portion for which 3 < r < 6 cm
has = 25 S/m. The inner sphere is held at 1 V while the outer is at V = 0.
a. Find E and J everywhere: From symmetry, E and J will be radially-directed, and we note the
fact that the current, I, must be constant at any cross-section; i.e., through any spherical surface
at radius r between the spheres. Thus we require that in both regions,
J =
I
4r
2
a
r
The elds will thus be
E
1
=
I
4
1
r
2
a
r
(2 < r < 3) and E
2
=
I
4
2
r
2
a
r
(3 < r < 6)
where
1
= 100 S/m and
2
= 25 S/m. Since we know the voltage between spheres (1V), we can
nd the value of I through:
1 V =
_
.03
.06
I
4
2
r
2
dr
_
.02
.03
I
4
1
r
2
dr =
I
0.24
_
1

1
+
1

2
_
and so
I =
0.24
(1/
1
+1/
2
)
= 15.08 A
Then nally, with I = 15.08 A substituted into the eld expressions above, we nd
E
1
=
.012
r
2
a
r
V/m (2 < r < 3)
and
E
2
=
.048
r
2
a
r
V/m (3 < r < 6)
The current density is now
J =
1
E
1
=
2
E
2
=
1.2
r
2
A/m (2 < r < 6)
b) What resistance would be measured between the two spheres? We use
R =
V
I
=
1 V
15.08 A
= 6.63 10
2

c) What is V at r = 3 cm? This we nd through

V =
_
.03
.06
.048
r
2
dr = .048
_
1
.03

1
.06
_
= 0.8 V
95
6.14. The cross-section of the transmission line shown in Fig. 6.12 is drawn on a sheet of conducting paper
with metallic paint. The sheet resistance is 2000 /sq and the dimension a is 2 cm.
a) Assuming a result for Prob. 6b of 110 pF/m, what total resistance would be measured between
the metallic conductors drawn on the conducting paper? We assume a paper thickness of t m, so
that the capacitance is C = 110t pF, and the surface resistance is R
s
= 1/(t ) = 2000 /sq. We
now use
RC =

R =

C
=
R
s
t
110 10
12
t
=
(1.6 8.854 10
12
)(2000)
110 10
12
= 257.6
b) What would the total resistance be if a = 2 cm? The result is independent of a, provided the
proportions are maintained. So again, R = 257.6 .
6.15. two concentric annular rings are painted on a sheet of conducting paper with a highly conducting metal
paint. The four radii are 1, 1.2, 3.5, and 3.7 cm. Connections made to the two rings show a resistance
of 215 ohms between them.
a) What is R
s
for the conducting paper? Using the two radii (1.2 and 3.5 cm) at which the rings are
at their closest separation, we rst evaluate the capacitance:
C =
2
0
t
ln(3.5/1.2)
= 5.19 10
11
t F
where t is the unknown paper coating thickness. Now use
RC =

0

R =
8.85 10
12
5.19 10
11
t
= 215
Thus
R
s
=
1
t
=
(51.9)(215)
8.85
= 1.26 k/sq
b) If the conductivity of the material used as the surface of the paper is 2 S/m, what is the thickness
of the coating? We use
t =
1
R
s
=
1
2 1.26 10
3
= 3.97 10
4
m = 0.397 mm
96
6.16. The square washer shown in Fig. 6.19 is 2.4 mm thick and has outer dimensions of 2.5 2.5 cm
and inner dimensions of 1.25 1.25 cm. The inside and outside surfaces are perfectly-conducting. If
the material has a conductivity of 6 S/m, estimate the resistance offered between the inner and outer
surfaces (shown shaded in Fig. 6.19). Afewcurvilinear squares are suggested: First we nd the surface
resistance, R
s
= 1/(t ) = 1/(6 2.4 10
3
) = 69.4 /sq. Having found this, we can construct
the total resistance by using the fundamental square as a building block. Specically, R = R
s
(N
l
/N
w
)
where N
l
is the number of squares between the inner and outer surfaces and N
w
is the number of squares
around the perimeter of the washer. These numbers are found from the curvilinear square plot shown
below, which covers one-eighth the washer. The resistance is thus R
.
= 69.4[4/(8 5)]
.
= 6.9 .
6.17. A two-wire transmission line consists of two parallel perfectly-conducting cylinders, each having a
radius of 0.2 mm, separated by center-to-center distance of 2 mm. The medium surrounding the wires
has
R
= 3 and = 1.5 mS/m. A 100-V battery is connected between the wires. Calculate:
a) the magnitude of the charge per meter length on each wire: Use
C =

cosh
1
(h/b)
=
3 8.85 10
12
cosh
1
(1/0.2)
= 3.64 10
9
C/m
Then the charge per unit length will be
Q = CV
0
= (3.64 10
11
)(100) = 3.64 10
9
C/m = 3.64 nC/m
b) the battery current: Use
RC =

R =
3 8.85 10
12
(1.5 10
3
)(3.64 10
11
)
= 486
Then
I =
V
0
R
=
100
486
= 0.206 A = 206 mA
97
6.18. A coaxial transmission line is modelled by the use of a rubber sheet having horizontal dimensions that
are 100 times those of the actual line. Let the radial coordinate of the model be
m
. For the line itself,
let the radial dimension be designated by as usual; also, let a = 0.6 mm and b = 4.8 mm. The model
is 8 cm in height at the inner conductor and zero at the outer. If the potential of the inner conductor is
100 V:
a) Find the expression for V(): Assuming charge density
s
on the inner conductor, we use Gauss
Law to nd 2D = 2a
s
, from which E = D/ = a
s
/() in the radial direction. The
potential difference between inner and outer conductors is
V
ab
= V
0
=
_
a
b
a
s

d =
a
s

ln
_
b
a
_
from which

s
=
V
0
a ln(b/a)
E =
V
0
ln(b/a)
Now, as a function of radius, and assuming zero potential on the outer conductor, the potential
function will be:
V() =
_

b
V
0

ln(b/a)
d

= V
0
ln(b/)
ln(b/a)
= 100
ln(.0048/)
ln(.0048/.0006)
= 48.1 ln
_
.0048

_
V
b) Write the model height as a function of
m
(not ): We use the part a result, since the gravitational
function must be the same as that for the electric potential. We replace V
0
by the maximum height,
and multiply all dimensions by 100 to obtain:
h(
m
) = 0.08
ln(.48/
m
)
ln(.48/.06)
= 0.038 ln
_
.48

m
_
m
98