10/21/2004 section 4_4 E-field calculations using Coulombs Law blank.

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4-4 E-field Calculations

using Coulomb’s Law

Reading Assignment: pp. 93-98

1. Example: The Uniform, Infinite Line Charge

2. Example: The Uniform Disk of Charge

3. Example: An Infinite Charge Plane

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 The Uniform Infinite Line Charge.doc 1/5

The Uniform, Infinite

Line Charge
Consider an infinite line of charge lying along the z-axis. The
charge density along this line is a constant value of ρ A C/m.

Q: What electric field E ( r ) is produced by this charge

distribution?

A: Apply Coulomb’s Law!

We know that for a line charge distribution that:

ρ A ( r′ ) r-r′
E (r ) = ∫ d A′
C 4πε 0 r-r′ 3

r E (r )

r′ r-r′

ρA

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 The Uniform Infinite Line Charge.doc 2/5

Q: Yikes! How do we evaluate this integral?

A: Don’t panic! You know how to evaluate this

integral. Let’s break up the process into smaller steps.

Step 1: Determine d A′

The differential element d A′ is just the magnitude of the

differential line element we studied in chapter 2 (i.e.,
d A′ = d A′ ). As a result, we can easily integrate over any of the
seven contours we discussed in chapter 2.

The contour in this problem is one of those! It is a line parallel

to the z-axis, defined as x’ =0 and y’ =0. As a result, we use for
d A′ :
d A′ = ˆaz dz ′ = dz ′

Step 2: Determine the limits of integration

This is easy! The line charge is infinite. Therefore, we integrate

from z ′ = −∞ to z ′ = ∞ .

Step 3: Determine the vector r-r′ .

Since for all charge x’ = 0 and y’ =0, we find:

r-r′ = ( xˆa
x + ya
ˆ y + za ) (
ˆ z − x′ˆax + y ′ˆay + z ′ˆaz )
= ( xˆa
x + ya
ˆ y + za
ˆz ) − z ′ˆaz

ˆ y + ( z − z ′ ) ˆaz
= xˆax + ya

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 The Uniform Infinite Line Charge.doc 3/5

3
Step 4: Determine the scalar r-r′

2
Since r-r′ = x 2 + y 2 + ( z − z ′ ) , we find:

3
3 2
r-r′ = ⎡⎣x + y + ( z − z ′ ) ⎤⎦
2 2 2

Step 5: Time to integrate !

ρ A ( r′ ) r-r′
E (r ) = ∫ 3
d A′
C 4πε 0 r-r′
1
∞
x ˆax + y ˆay + ( z − z ′ ) ˆaz
= ∫ρ 3
dz ′
4πε 0
A
−∞ ⎡x 2 + y 2 + ( z − z ′ ) ⎤ 2 2

⎣ ⎦
ρA ∞
x ˆax + y ˆay + ( z − z ′ ) ˆaz
= ∫ 3
dz ′
4πε 0 −∞ ⎡x 2 + y 2 + ( z − z ′ ) ⎤ 2 2
⎣ ⎦
ρ A ( x ˆax + y ˆay ) ∞
dz ′
=
4πε 0 ∫ 3
⎡x 2 + y 2 + ( z − z ′ )2 ⎤
−∞
2
⎣ ⎦
ρ ˆa ∞
( z − z ′ ) dz ′
+ A z
4πε 0 ∫ 2
3

⎣x + y + ( z − z ) ⎦
2
−∞ ⎡ 2
′ ⎤
2

ρ A ( x ˆax + y ˆay ) 2
= +0
4πε 0 x + y2 2

ρ A ( x ˆax + y ˆay )
=
2πε 0 x2 + y2

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 The Uniform Infinite Line Charge.doc 4/5

This result, however, is best expressed in cylindrical

coordinates:

xˆax + ya
ˆy ρ cosφ ˆax + ρ sinφ ˆay
=
x2 + y2 ρ2
cosφ ˆax + sinφ ˆay
=
ρ

And with cylindrical base vectors:

cosφ ˆax + sinφ ˆay 1

ρ
=
ρ
( cosφ ˆa x )
⋅ ˆaρ + sinφ ˆay ⋅ ˆaρ ˆaρ

1
+
ρ
( cosφ ˆax )
⋅ ˆaφ + sinφ ˆay ⋅ ˆaφ ˆaφ

1
+
ρ
( cosφ ˆa x )
⋅ ˆaz + sinφ ˆay ⋅ ˆaz ˆaz

1
=
ρ
( cos φ + sin φ ) ˆa
2 2
ρ

1
+
ρ
( -cosφ sinφ + sinφ cosφ ) ˆaφ
1
+
ρ
( cosφ ( 0 ) + sinφ ( 0 ) ) ˆaz
ˆaρ
=
ρ

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 The Uniform Infinite Line Charge.doc 5/5

As a result, we can write the electric field produced by an

infinite line charge with constant density ρ A as:

ρ A âρ
E (r ) =
2πε 0 ρ

Note what this means. Recall unit vector âρ is the direction that
points away from the z-axis. In other words, the electric field
produced by the uniform line charge points away from the line
charge, just like the electric field produced by a point charge
likewise points away from the charge.

It is apparent that the electric field in the static case appears

to diverge from the location of the charge. And, this is exactly
what Maxwell’s equations (Gauss’s Law) says will happen ! i.e.,:

ρv ( r )
∇ ⋅ E (r ) =
ε0

Note the magnitude of the electric field is proportional to 1 ρ ,

therefore the electric field diminishes as we get further from
the line charge. Note however, the electric field does not
diminish as quickly as that generated by a point charge. Recall
in that case, the magnitude of the electric field diminishes as
1 r2 .

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 The Uniform Disk of Charge.doc 1/5

The Uniform Disk

of Charge
Consider a disk radius a, centered at the origin, and lying
entirely on the z =0 plane.

E (r )
r
r-r′

ρs r′

This disk contains surface charge, with density of ρs C/m2.

This density is uniform across the disk.

Let’s find the electric field generated by this charge disk!

From Coulomb’s Law, we know:

ρs ( r′ ) r-r′
E (r ) = ∫∫S ds ′
4πε 0 r-r′ 3

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 The Uniform Disk of Charge.doc 2/5

Step 1: Determine ds’

This disk can be described by the equation z’ = 0. That is, every

point on the disk has a cordinate value z’ that is equal to zero.

This is one of the surfaces we examined in chapter 2. The

differential surface element for that surface, you recall, is:

ds ′ = dsz = ρ ′ d ρ ′ d φ ′

Step 2: Determine the limits of integration .

Note over the surface of the disk, ρ ′ changes from 0 to radius

a, and φ ′ changes from 0 to 2π . Therefore:

0 < ρ′ < a 0 < φ ′ < 2π

Step 3: Determine vector r-r′ .

We know that z’ = 0 for all charge, therefore we can write:

r-r′ = ( xˆa
x + ya
ˆ y + za ) (
ˆ z − x′ˆax + y ′ˆay + z ′ˆaz )
= ( xˆa
x + ya
ˆ y + za
ˆz ) − ( x′ˆax + y ′ˆay )
= ( x-x′ ) ˆax + ( y − y ′ ) ˆay + za
ˆz

Since the primed coordinates in ds’ are expressed in cylindrical

coordinates, we convert the coordinates to get:

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 The Uniform Disk of Charge.doc 3/5

r-r′ = xˆax + ya(

ˆ y + za
ˆ z − x′ˆax + y ′ˆay ) ( )
= ( x − x') ˆax + ( y − y ′ ) ˆay + z ˆaz
= ( x − ρ ′ cosφ ′ ) ˆax + ( y − ρ ′ sinφ ′ ) ˆay + z ˆaz

3
Step 4: Determine r-r′

We find that:

3
= ⎡( x-ρ ′cosφ ′ ) + ( y − ρ ′sinφ ′ ) + z 2 ⎤
3 2 2 2
r-r′
⎣ ⎦

Step 5: Time to integrate !

ρs ( r′ ) r-r′
E (r ) = ∫∫S ds ′
4πε 0 r-r′ 3
ρs 2π a
( x-ρ ′cosφ ′ ) ˆax + ( y − ρ ′sinφ ′ ) ˆay + z ˆaz
= ∫∫ 3
ρ ′d ρ ′d φ ′
4πε 0 0 0 ⎡( x-ρ ′cosφ ′ )2 + ( y − ρ ′sinφ ′ )2 + z 2 ⎤ 2
⎣ ⎦

Yikes! What a mess! To simplify our integration let’s determine

the electric field E ( r ) along the z-axis only. In other words,
set x = 0 and y = 0.

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 The Uniform Disk of Charge.doc 4/5

ρs ( r′ ) r-r′
E ( x=0,y=0,z ) = ∫∫ ds ′
S 4πε 0 r-r′ 3

ρs 2π a ( 0 − ρ ′cosφ ′ ) aˆx + ( 0 − ρ ′sinφ ′ ) aˆy − zaˆz

ρ ′d ρ ′d φ ′
4πε 0 ∫0 ∫0 ⎡
= 3
( 0 − ρ ′cosφ ′) + ( 0 − ρ ′sinφ ′ ) + z 2 ⎤
2 2 2
⎣ ⎦
− ρs 2π a ( ρ ′cosφ ′ ) aˆx + ( ρ ′sinφ ′ ) aˆy − zaˆz
= ∫ ∫ ρ ′d ρ ′d φ ′
4πε 0 0 0 3
⎡⎣ ρ ′2 + z 2 ⎤⎦ 2

=
ρs 2π a
aˆx ∫ ∫
( ρ ′cosφ ′ ) ρ ′d ρ ′d φ ′
4πε 0 0 0
3
⎡⎣ ρ ′2 + z 2 ⎤⎦ 2

+
− ρs 2π a
aˆy ∫ ∫
( ρ ′sinφ ′ ) ρ ′d ρ ′d φ ′
4πε 0 0 0 3
⎡⎣ ρ ′2 + z 2 ⎤⎦ 2
2π a
− ρs z ρ ′d ρ ′d φ ′
+ aˆz ∫ ∫
4πε 0 0 0 ⎡ ρ ′2 + z 2 ⎤ 32
⎣ ⎦

Note that since:

2π 2π

∫ sin φ d φ = 0 = ∫ cos φ d φ
0 0

The first two terms (Ex and Ey) are equal to zero. Integrating
the last term, we get:

⎧ ρ ⎡ z ⎤
⎪ s ˆaz ⎢1 − ⎥ if z > 0
⎪ 2ε 0 ⎣ z 2 + a2 ⎦
⎪
E ( x=0,y=0,z ) = ⎨
⎪
⎪ ρs ˆa ⎡ −1 − z ⎤
if z < 0
⎪ 2ε 0 z ⎣⎢ z 2
+ a 2
⎥
⎦
⎩

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 The Uniform Disk of Charge.doc 5/5

From this expression, we can conclude two things. The first is

that above the disk (z > 0), the electric field points in the
direction ˆaz , and below the disk (z < 0), it points in the direction
- ˆaz .

What a surprise (not)! The electric field points away from the
charge. It appears to be diverging from the charged disk (as
predicted by Gauss’s Law).

Likewise, it is evident that as we move further and further

from the disk, the electric field will diminish. In fact, as
distance z goes to infinity, the magnitude of the electric field
approaches zero. This of course is similar to the point or line
charge; as we move an infinite distance away, the electric field
diminishes to nothing.

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 An Infinite Charge Plane.doc 1/3

An Infinite Charge Plane

Say that we have a very large charge disk. So large, in fact,
that its radius a approaches infinity !

Q: What electric field is created by this infinite

plane?

A: We already know! Just evaluate the charge disk

solution for the case where the disk radius a is
infinity.

In other words:

⎧ ρ ⎡ z ⎤
⎪ ˆaz s ⎢1 − ⎥ if z > 0
⎪ 2ε 0 ⎣ z 2 + a2 ⎦
⎪
lim E ( x=0,y=0,z ) = ⎨
a →∞
⎪
⎪ˆa ρs ⎡ −1 − z ⎤
if z < 0
⎪ z 2ε 0 ⎢⎣ z 2
+ a 2
⎥
⎦
⎩
⎧ ρs
⎪ 2ε ˆaz if z > 0
⎪⎪ 0
=⎨
⎪ −ρ
⎪ s ˆaz if z < 0
⎪⎩ 2ε 0

Therefore, the electric field produced by an infinite charge

plane, with surface charge density ρs , is:

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 An Infinite Charge Plane.doc 2/3

⎧ ρs
⎪ 2ε ˆaz if z > 0
⎪⎪ 0
E (r ) = ⎨
⎪ −ρ
⎪ s ˆaz if z < 0
⎪⎩ 2ε 0

Think about what this says!

* First, we note that the electric field points away from the
plane if ρs is positive, and toward the plane if ρs is
negative.

* Second, we notice that the magnitude of the electric field

is a constant—the magnitude is independent of the
distance from the infinite plane!

ρs > 0

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

10/21/2004 An Infinite Charge Plane.doc 3/3

The reason for this result is, that no matter how far you are
(i.e., |z|) from the infinite charge plane, you remain infinitely
close to plane, when compared to its radius a.

We will find these results are useful when we study the

behavior of a parallel plate capacitor.

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS