Electrostatic boundary conditions
How does electrostatic quantities change at the interface between two media which are di erent
electrostatically - conductor, dielectric and vacuum
1. Conductor-Vacuum interface:
In vacuum, ρ = 0, E ⃗ ≠ 0
E⃗ En Inside conductors, ρ = 0, E ⃗ = 0
E⃗ On the surface of a conductor, σ ≠ 0
Vacuum σ If there is an electric eld in the vacuum, it can be
Et
decomposed into tangential and normal
Conductor components Et and En.
w h σ
We know the normal component: En =
ϵ0
To nd the tangential component, consider a small closed loop at the interface
E ⃗ ⋅ dl ⃗ = 0
∮L
h h
⇒ Etw − En + En = 0 ⇒ Et = 0
2 2
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2. Conductor-Dielectric interface:
Inside the conductor, ρ = 0, E ⃗ = 0, permittivity = ϵ0
E⃗ En ⃗
Inside the dielectric, ρ ≠ 0, E ≠ 0, permittivity = ϵ
E⃗
On the surface of a conductor, σ ≠ 0
Dielectric On the surface of a dielectric, σ ≠ 0
σs Et
Total surface charge density σs
Conductor
w h σs
Normal and tangential components: Et = 0, En =
ϵ
Displacement vector D ⃗ = ϵ0 E ⃗ + P ⃗
Polarization P ⃗ ∝ E ⃗ = ϵ0 χe E ,⃗ where χe = electric susceptibility
⇒ D ⃗ = ϵ0 E ⃗ + ϵ0 χe E ⃗ = ϵ0(1 + χe) E ⃗ = ϵ E ⃗ Dt = 0, Dn = σs
ϵ = ϵ0(1 + χe)
ϵ
⇒ = 1 + χe = ϵ0 (relative permittivity) = κ (dielectric constant)
ϵ0
3. Dielectric-Dielectric interface:
E ⃗ ⋅ d l ⃗ = 0 on the closed loop
∮L
Applying
h h h h
E 1⃗ −E1tw − E1n − E2n + E2tw + E2n + E1n = 0
E1n 2 2 2 2
Dielectric 1 σ E1t ⇒ (E1t − E2t)w = 0
E 2⃗
s
Since w is small but non-zero, E1t = E2t
Dielectric 2 E2n
w h D1t D2t
E2t With D1 = ϵ1E1 and D2 = ϵ2E2, =
ϵ1 ϵ2
To nd the normal component, consider a Gaussian pill box
(of height h and at surface area s) at the interface and apply
E 1⃗
D ⃗ ⋅ d s ⃗ = Qenclosed
∮S
E1n
Dielectric 1 σ E1t ⇒ D1ns − D2ns = Qenclosed = σss
E 2⃗
s s
Dielectric 2 E2n ⇒ D1n − D2n = σs
h
E2t
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Problems:
1. Two uniform in nite sheets of electric charge densities +σ and −σ intersect at right angles. Find the
magnitude and direction of the electric eld everywhere and sketch the eld lines for E .⃗
2. Tho inside of a grounded spherical metal shell of inner and outer radii R1 and R2 is lled with space charge of
uniform charge density ρ.
(a) Find the potential at the center.
(b) Find the electrostatic energy of the system.
3. An isolated soap bubble of radius 1 cm is at a potential of 100 volts. If it collapses to a drop of radius 1 mm,
what is the change of its electrostatic energy?
4. A sphere of radius R1 has charge density ρ uniform within its volume, except for a small spherical hollow
region of radius R2 located a distance a from the center.
(a) Find the eld E ⃗ at the center of the hollow sphere.
(b) Find the potential V at the same point, considering in nity as the reference.
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