MZUZU UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ELECTRONICS

PHYS 2401 : ELECTROMAGNETISM

ASSIGNMENT 1

DATE ISSUED: AUGUST 18, 2024 DUE DATE: SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

p
1. If ϕ = 1r , where r = x2 + y 2 + z 2 , show that ∇ϕ = r
r3
.

2. Given that F = (2xy + z 2 ) î + x2 ĵ + xyz k̂

(a) Show that F is a conservative force field.
(b) Find the scalar potential of F.

3. Show that the divergence of an inverse square force is zero

4. Using Gauss’ law,

(a) Derive Coulomb’s formula for the electric field due to an isolated point charge q.
(b) Show that the electric field magnitude due to an infinite sheet of charge, carrying a surface
charge density σ, is given by

σ
E= ,
2ϵ0

5. Suppose the electric field in some region is found to be E = kr3 r̂, in spherical coordinates
(where k is some constant).Find the
(a) charge density ρ.
(b) total charge contained in a sphere of radius R, centered at the origin.

6. Consider an infinite uniform line charge with linear charge density λ. The electric field at a
perpendicular distance r from the line charge is given by:

λ
E(r) = r̂
2πϵ0 r
Suppose the electric potential Φ is zero at a reference distance r0 .
(a) Show that the electric potential Φ(r) is given by:

λ r 
0
Φ(r) = ln
2πϵ0 r
 (b) Consider two equal and opposite line charges ±λ lying parallel to the z-axis of Cartesian
coordinates and separated by a distance 2a as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1:

Use the expression for the electric potential Φ(r) due to a single line charge to show that:
 
λ r1
Φ(r) = ln ,
2πϵ0 r2

where r1 and r2 are the distances from the point P to the positive and negative line charges,
respectively.
(c) Suppose that the line charges in problem (b) above are now both positive. Prove that:

r02
 
λ
Φ(r) = ln
2πϵ0 r1 r2

7. Two point charges q and −q are a distance 2d apart. Cartesian axes are chosen such that the
coordinates of these charges are (0, 0, d) and (0, 0, −d) respectively along the z−axis. Suppose
P is an arbitrary point in space lying (along the y−axis on the perpendicular bisector of the
line joining q and −q. Using far-field approximation i.e (r ≫ d) where r is the location of P on
the perpendicular bisector, r1± ≈ 1r (1 ± 1r cosθ + ....).
(a) Show that the electric potential at P is given by:

1 p · r̂
Φ(r) = ,
4πϵ0 r2
where p = 2qdẑ.
(b) Derive the expression for the electric field at P using the results obtained in (a) above

8. (a) Derive Poisson’s Equation in electrostatics,

ρ(r)
∇2 Φ(r) = − ,
ϵ0

Page 2
 from the differential form of Gauss’s law.
(b) Verify that

ρ(r′ )
Z
1
Φ(r) = dV ′
4πϵ0 V |r − r′ |

is a solution to the results obtained in 8(a).

9. Show that the torque τ on an electric dipole with dipole moment p in a uniform external
electric field E is given by

τ = p × E,
Hence, deduce that the potential energy of the dipole is given by

U = −p · E,

10. Use the Biot–Savart Law to Obtain the Magnetostatic Equations:

∇·B=0

and

∇ × B = µ0 J(r),

where J(r) is the current density

11. Use the law of conservation of charge and the definition of electric current to derive the equation

∂ρ
∇·J+ = 0,
∂t
relating the time-dependent charge density ρ(r, t) and current density J(r, t) at an arbitrary
point in space.

12. Show that for a charge q moving in a uniform magnetic field B, the magnetic force acting on
the charge does not work on the charge.

13. Use Stokes’ theorem to derive the expression

∂B
CurlE = −
∂t
THE END

Page 3