MULTIMEDIA UNIVERSITY OF KENYA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2023/2024
SECOND YEAR FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ELECTRICAL AND TELECOMMUNICATION
ENGINEERING
ECE 2214: ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

DATE: Wednesday 13th December 2023 TIME: 2 Hours

INSTRUCTIONS
1. This paper consists of five questions.
2. Answer Question One and any other two questions from the remaining four.
3. Unless otherwise specified; Assume free space conditions and all symbols have their usual
meaning.
4. Use the formula sheet provided where necessary.
5. Free space constants:
 0 = 8.854  10 −12 F/m  0 = 4  10 −7 H/m

QUESTION 1 (30 marks) – Compulsory

a) Give brief but accurate answers to each of the following questions:
i. State two properties of the magnetostatic field that distinguish it from the electrostatic
field. (2 marks)
ii. Establish whether the field E = ya x + xa y can arise from a static distribution of
charge. (2 marks)
iii. State any two properties that a suitable Amperian loop must satisfy. (2 marks)
iv. Distinguish between electric dipole and magnetic dipole. (2 marks)
v. State the equation for Ohm’s law in point form. Identify each of the parameters in the
equation with respective SI unit. (2 marks)

b) Two point charges q1 = 10 nC and q2 = −5 nC are located at P1 (1, 0, 2) and P2 (−1,1, 0)

respectively in free space. Determine the electric field, E at the origin. (5 marks)

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c) With the aid of a well labelled diagram, derive the boundary condition for the normal
component of the electric flux density D at an interface between a perfect conductor and
free space. (5 marks)

d) Define the magnetic vector potential A from B . Hence, show that  2 A = − J i.e the
magnetic vector potential satisfies Poisson’s equation. (5 marks)

e) Consider a point charge q = −2 C moving at a velocity in a magnetic field

B = 3a x − a y + 10a z T . Determine the resultant magnetic force. (5 marks)

QUESTION 2 (20 marks)

a) Given V = 4 x + 2 y V in free space,
i. Prove that V satisfies Laplace equation. (2 marks)
ii. Determine the associated charge density  v . Hence, determine the total charge stored
in the region bounded by 0  x  2 , 0  y  2 , 0  z  1 . All dimensions are in
metres. (5 marks)
iii. Find the total energy stored in the same region defined in (ii). (5 marks)

b) Derive the continuity of current equation. (8 marks)

QUESTION 3 (20 marks)

a) State Gauss’ law and derive it’s point form equivalent. (3 marks)

b) Two thin concentric conducting spherical shells insulated from each other have radii of
0.10m and 0.20m as shown in Figure Q3. The inner shell is set at an electric potential of –
100V and the outer shell is set at an electric potential of +100V with each potential defined
relative to a conventional reference point. Let Qi and Qo represent the net charge on the
inner and outer shells respectively, and let r be the distance from the centre of the shells.
Express all algebraic answers in terms of Qi , Qo , r and the fundamental constants as
appropriate.

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 m0
0.1
m
0.20

-100V

+100V

Figure Q3
i. Using Gauss law, derive the algebraic expressions for the electric field E(r ) for the
regions 0.10  r  0.20 m and r  0.20 m (6 marks)
ii. Determine the algebraic expression for the electric potential V ( r ) for r  0.20 m .
(4marks)
iii. Using the numerical information given, calculate the value of the total charge QT on
the two spherical shells ( QT = Qi + Qo ). (4 marks)
iv. Copy the axes below in your answer booklet and sketch on them the electric field
E ( r ) as a function of distance r . Let the positive direction be radially outward.
(3 marks)
E (r )

0 r
0.10 0.20 0.30

QUESTION 4 (20 marks)

a) The magnetic vector potential in cylindrical co-ordinates is given as

A = ka 

where k is a constant.

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 i. Show that   A = 0 . (3 marks)
ii. Determine B . (4 marks)

b) An infinitely long cylinder of radius R carries current I that is uniformly distributed

throughout its cross section. A square loop is placed with its vertical edge aligned in the same
direction as the cylinder axis and its horizontal edge pointing straight out as illustrated in Fig.
Q4. The length of the side of the loop is a . The left edge of the loop is initially distance x
from the cylinder axis.

Figure Q4

Determine

i. The expressions for B inside and outside the cylindrical conductor. (6 marks)
ii. The flux through the square loop. (4 marks)
iii. The expression for the magnetic energy density outside the loop. (3 marks)

QUESTION 5 (20 marks)

a) Define inductance. Hence, distinguish between self-inductance and mutual inductance.

(3 marks)
b) A very long solenoid of radius R has n turns per unit length, carries current I and is
oriented along the z axis. The magnetic field is

 nIa z Inside
B= 0
0 Outside

Determine the expression for the self-inductance per unit length of this solenoid.
(7 marks)

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c) Figure Q5 shows a segment of a long coaxial cable whose inner conductor has radius a and
outer conductor has radius b but with negligible thickness. The potential difference between
the inner and outer conductors is V0 with the inner conductor being at higher potential.
Assuming the space between the conductors is filled with a dielectric with permittivity  ,
derive the expression for the capacitance per unit length of the cable. (10 marks)

Figure Q5

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 ESSENTIAL MATHEMATICS
A: Differential element of line, area and volume

Co-ordinate system Differential length Differential area Differential volume

Cartesian d = a x dx + a y dy + a z dz dsx = dydz dv = dxdydz

ds y = dxdz
dsz = dxdy

Cylindrical d = a  d  + a  d + a z dz ds =  d dz dv =  d  d dz
ds = d  dz
dsz =  d  d

Spherical d = ar dr + a rd + a r sin  d dsr = r 2 sin  d d dv = r 2 sin  drd d

ds = r sin  drd
ds = rdrd

B: Differential vector operators

Gradient of scalar V
    
V =  a x + ay + az V (Cartesian)
 x y z
  1   
V =  a  + a + az V (Cylindrical)
    z
  1  1  
V =  a r + a + a (Spherical)
 
V
 r r  r sin  
Divergence of vector A
Ax Ay Az
A = + + (Cartesian)
x y z
1  1 A Az
A = (  A ) + + (Cylindrical)
 r   z
1  2 1  1 A
A = (r Ar ) + ( A sin  + (Spherical)
r r
2
r sin   r sin  

Curl of vector A
 A Ay   Ax Az   Ay Ax 
  A = ax  z −  + ay  − + az  − 
x 
(Cartesian)
 y z   z  x y 

 1 Az A   A Az  1   (  A ) A  (Cylindrical)

  A = ar  −  + a  −  + az  − 
    z   z        
1   ( A sin  ) A  1  1 Ar  ( rA  1   (rA ) Ar  (Spherical)
  A = ar  −  + a  −  + a  −
r sin      r  sin   r  r  r  

Laplacian of scalar V
 2 2 2 
 2V =  2 + 2 + 2 V (Cartesian)
 x y z 
1   V  1   2V   2V
 2V =  +  +
(Cylindrical)
      2   2  z 2
1   2 V  1   V  1  2V
 2V = 2 + 2  sin  + 2
(Spherical)
r
r r  r  r sin      r sin   2
2

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