Department of Physics PHY 103A-Assignment 6

IIT Kanpur 2021-22

Problems 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be discussed during the tutorial hour.

1. An infinitely long solid conducting cylinder of radius a has two hollow cylindrical regions
each of diameter a as shown by the shaded regions in the figure below. The conductor
carries a current I flowing uniformly through the solid portion (unshaded region). Find
the field at point P, a distance r from the center on the axis (r > a) as shown in the
figure. What is the magnetic field at p when r >> a?

2. Consider two long coaxial solenoids each carrying current I, but in opposite direction as
shown in Fig. 3. The inner solenoid of radius a has n1 turns per unit length, and the
outer one of radius b(> a) has n2 . Find the magnetic field in each of the three regions:
(a) inside the inner solenoid;
(b) in between the two solenoids;
(c) outside both the solenoids.

Compare the results of the above situation with the following problem. A long cylindrical
wire with inner radius r = a and outer radius r = b carries a uniform current I along
the axis. Find the magnetic field
(a) inside the hollow region (r < a);
(b) inside the conducting region (a < r < b);
(c) outside the conductor (r > a).
3. A spherical shell with radius R and uniform surface charge density σ spins with angular
frequency ω around its diameter. Find the magnetic field at the center of the sphere
using Biot-Savart law involving surface current distribution.
4. We have discussed in the lecture that the vector potential for a volume current density
J is given by,
J(r0 )
Z
µ0
A(r) = 0
dτ 0 .
4π |r − r |
Calculate ∇ × B using the above expression assuming a steady current distribution.

Phy103A: Physics-II Soumik Mukhopadhyay

Phy103A Page 2 of 2 Assignment 6

5. A long wire, carrying a current I, is bent in such a way as to have a semicircular arc
of radius R as shown in Fig. 2(a). Calculate the magnetic field at the center of the arc
when I = 10 Amp and R = 0.5 cm. Then calculate the magnetic field at the center of
the circular arc for the configuration shown in Fig. 2(b).

6. Consider a thick wire of finite length L having radius R (R  L) and carrying a current
I flowing along z direction with uniform current density. Find the magnetic field near
the middle of the wire both inside and just outside using Ampere’s law with proper
justification. Find out the corresponding curl of B, ~ both inside and just outside the
wire. [You may use (∇ × B) ~ z = [ (sBφ ) −
1 ∂ ∂B s
], in cylindrical coordinates]
s ∂s ∂φ

7. Find the net magnetic force on the bent wire carrying current I placed in a uniform
~ as shown in the figure below. The straight path connecting the two
magnetic field B
points a and b (shown by dashed line) has a length L and is oriented perpendicular to
~
B.

8. Find the net force on the square loop of side length a near an infinite straight wire. One
of the sides of the square loop is parallel to the infinite wire. Both the loop and the wire
carry a steady current I.
Department of Physics PHY 103AA-Assignment 7
IIT Kanpur 2021-22

Problems 1 − 4 will be discussed in the tutorial.

1. The magnetic vector potential due to a surface current distribution K(r0 ) at any point
r is given by,
K(r0 )
Z
µ0
A(r) = da0
4π |r − r0 |
Now consider a thin spherical shell of radius R with center at the origin, carrying a
surface charge density σ and rotating with angular velocity ωẑ. Find the vector potential
everywhere using the above expression.

2. (a) Find the magnetic vector potential everywhere

H for an infinite sheet with a uniform
surface current K x̂ using the relation A · dl = Φ.
(b) Find the vector potential everywhere for a long conducting wire of radius R carrying
uniform current I along its axis using electrostatic analogy.

3. The magnetic dipole moment of a volume current distribution, as discussed in the lecture,
is given by, Z
1
m= r0 × J(r0 ) dτ 0
2
Using the above expression find the magnetic dipole moment of a spherical shell of radius
R, carrying a surface charge density σ and rotating with angular velocity ωẑ.

4. Consider a sphere of radius R, having frozen-in uniform magnetization M pointing to-

wards the north pole. Find the ‘auxiliary H’ field inside the sphere using electrostatic
analogy. Find the ‘B’ field inside the sphere.

5. Estimate the magnetic field B for the following objects having frozen-in uniform mag-
netization by using bound current densities (and the boundary conditions, wherever
applicable).
(a) Disc of radius R, thickness t magnetization M is parallel to the axis of the disk.
Find the field at a point on the axis just inside and just outside.
(b) An infinitely long cylinder carries a uniform magnetization M parallel to its axis.
Find the magnetic field inside and outside the cylinder.

6. Using the expression in problem 3, find the magnetic dipole moment of a solid sphere
carrying uniform volume charge density ρ and rotating with angular velocity ωẑ.
~ = M ẑ).
7. A solid sphere is uniformly magnetized along the ẑ direction (magnetization M
(a) Find all the bound currents and using them, find the magnetic field B ~ inside the
sphere.
(b) Find the field at the north pole, outside the sphere.
(c) Find the magnetic field B just outside the sphere at the equator using appropriate
boundary conditions.

Phy103AA: Physics II Soumik Mukhopadhyay

Phy103AA Page 2 of 2 Assignment 7

(d) Neatly sketch the magnetic field lines B everywhere (inside and outside the sphere).

8. A finite solid cylinder of radius R, length L  R has a frozen-in constant magnetization

M parallel to the axis.
(a) Calculate the bound volume current and bound surface currents everywhere.
(b) Write down the boundary conditions for the parallel and normal components of
B and H fields at the flat surfaces (top and bottom) and curved surface of the
cylinder.
(c) Sketch the B field lines everywhere, keeping in mind the boundary conditions.
Department of Physics PHY 103AA-Assignment 8
IIT Kanpur Nov-March 2021-22

Problems 1 − 4 will be discussed in the tutorial.

1. Two long coaxial cylindrical shells of radii a and b (b > a) are placed with their axis
along the z-direction. A current I goes through the inner shell in the z-direction and
returns through the outer shell, the current being uniformly distributed on the surface.
If I = I0 exp −t/τ , find the induced electric field everywhere.
2. Two large plates at z = ± d2 carry slow time-varying surface currents K(t)x̂ and −K(t)x̂,
respectively. Find the magnetic field everywhere using quasi-static approximation. Find
the induced electric field everywhere.
3. A parallel plate capacitor is made of two circular sheets of radius R with a separation
d  R. The capacitor is getting charged at a very slow rate with charge Q(t) =
Q0 {1 − exp(−t/t0 )}
(a) Plot the charge as a function of time.
(b) Determine and plot the displacement current as a function of time
(c) Determine the magnetic field in between the plates.
(d) What is the origin of the magnetic field? When and where would the above analysis
represent the true fields in between the plates?
4. A half-infinite straight wire carries current I from negative infinity to the origin O as
shown by the solid straight line in the figure below. The termination of the wire leads
to a build-up (increase) of charge q at the origin with time (so that dq dt
= I). Consider
the circle shown in the figure below which hasH radius R and subtends an angle 2θ with
respect to the charge. Compute the integral B ~ around the circle for the two surfaces
~ · dl
SR and SL as shown in the figure.

5. A conducting rod of mass m slides freely along a rail made of two parallel conducting
wires (along x̂) connected together by a resistance R. The two wires are separated along
the y-direction by a distance l. The resistor R, the two parallel wires and the rod form
a closed rectangular loop and the whole thing is immersed in a constant magnetic field
−B ẑ (pointing into the page, as shown in figure). The rod is given a initial velocity v0 x̂
such that the area of the loop increases. Determine the following:

Phy103AA: Physics II Soumik Mukhopadhyay

Phy103A Page 2 of 3 Assignment 8

(a) Compute the electric current in the loop at any time t.

(b) Compute the rod’s displacement x(t) and velocity v(t).
(c) Compute the power lost through Joule heating and plot it as a function of time.
What is the total power dissipated?

~
6. A longitudinal alternating magnetic field B(t) = B0 cos ωt ẑ is driven through the interior
of an ohmic solid conducting tube (conductivity σ) with length L and radius R  L.
(a) Find the low-frequency induced (‘eddy’) current density distribution J~ind (r0 , t) inside
the tube, neglecting the effects of self-inductance. (Here r0 is the radial distance
from the center axis of the tube.)
(b) Find the magnetic field B ~ ind produced by J~ind (r0 , t) inside the tube. (Hint: Note
that the volume current in (a) is circumferential, similar to that in solenoids, and
can be imagined as a collection of surface currents. Keep in mind that magnetic
field is non-zero only inside the solenoid.)
(c) Utilize (b) to find the correction to J~ind produced by self-induction, i.e., due to the
time varying flux of B~ ind inside the tube.

7. A metallic sphere of radius R is moving with a constant velocity v0 x̂ in an uniform

magnetic field B0 ẑ. Find
(a) the electric field inside the sphere;
(b) the induced charge density (surface or bulk) in the sphere;
(c) the electric dipole moment of the charge distribution;
(d) the potential difference between points y = ±R on the sphere.

8. A parallel plate capacitor with circular plates (radius R) is being charged by a constant
current IC as shown in the figure below. Assume that the electric field inside the capacitor
is uniform and neglect fringing fields near the edges. The instantaneous total charge on
the plates are ±Q(t) and the free space permittivity (permeability) is 0 (µ0 ).
~ and the corresponding magnetic field B
~ · dl ~ for the closed
H
(a) Compute the integral B
loop C with radius r < R for the two surfaces S1 (shaded flat surface) and S2
(unshaded surface which does not cut any capacitor plate) attached to C as shown
in the figure, using the generalized form of Ampere’s law (including the displacement
current). Find the magnetic field. Show explicit calculations in both cases.
Phy103A Page 3 of 3 Assignment 8

(b) Calculate the distribution of surface current density flowing in the capacitor plates
by applying the same law on surface S3 (unshaded surface which cuts the capac-
itor plate on the right) attached to C. [You may utilize the magnetic field value
calculated in (b).]
Department of Physics PHY 103AA-Assignment 9
IIT Kanpur Nov-March 2021-22

Problems 1 − 4 will be discussed during the tutorial hour.

1. A long solenoid of radius R carries a weakly time dependent current I(t). The solenoid is
encircled by a symmetrically placed conducting loop of radius 4R. Calculate the energy
inflow to the external loop which replenishes the energy dissipated by joule heating.

2. A capacitor with two circular plates of radius R is being charged by a constant current.
Calculate the Poynting vector at radius r inside the capacitor, and verify that its flux
equals the rate of change of the energy stored in the region bounded by radius r.

3. Write down the real electric and magnetic field for a monochromatic plane wave of
amplitude E0 , frequency ω, and phase angle (δ) zero that is (i) traveling in the negative
x direction and polarized in the z direction; (ii) traveling along (1, 1, 1) direction, with
polarization parallel to the xz plane. In each case, sketch the wave, and give the explicit
Cartesian components of ~k and n̂.

4. Two electromagnetic waves traveling along +z and −z direction, respectively, are given
by, Ex1 = E0 sin(ωt − kz)x̂;By1 = Ec0 sin(ωt − kz)ŷ and Ex2 = E0 sin(ωt + kz)x̂;By2 =
− Ec0 sin(ωt + kz)ŷ. Find out the nature of the wave resulting from superposition of
the two traveling waves. Plot the electromagnetic energy density uem (z, t) and the z
component of the Poynting vector Sz (z, t) at ωt values of 0, π/4, π/2, and 3π/4 and π.
Interpret the result.

5. Consider a traveling electromagnetic wave along z direction with E(z, ~ t) = Ex x̂ + Ey ŷ,

where Ex = E0x cos (ωt − kz) and Ey = E0y cos (ωt − kz + δ). Find out the locus of the
tip of the electric field vector over a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation.

6. Consider a solenoid of length l and radius R (l  R) carrying a surface current density

K = K φ̂. Calculate the energy stored in the volume V = πR2 l of the solenoid. The
current is now switched off. Calculate the the power flown out of the surface. Compare
the two results.

7. Consider the rectangular toroidal coil (shape of a donut with rectangular cross-section)
carrying current I(t) with total N turns, inner radius a, outer radius b and height h [so
that the area of the rectangular cross section is (b − a)h].
(a) Calculate the self-inductance of the coil from the induced emf.
(b) Calculate independently the total energy stored in the magnetic field. Verify your
result by calculating the same using the self-inductance.

Phy103AA: Physics II Soumik Mukhopadhyay

Phy103AA Page 2 of 2 Assignment 9

8. A set-up consists of three very long coaxial parts: (i) a nonconducting cylinder with
radius a with total charge Q, (ii) another nonconducting cylinder with radius b > a
having total charge −Q, and (iii) a solenoid with radius R > b, having n turns per unit
length and carrying current I. The two cylinders are free to rotate about the common
axis and are initially at rest. The current in the solenoid is then switched off.
(a) Find the total mechanical angular momenta imparted to the charged cylinders by
~ fields gener-
the time the current in the solenoid is decreased to zero. Ignore the B
ated by rotating charged cylinders.
(b) Now calculate explicitly the total initial angular momentum stored in the field.
Department of Physics PHY 103AA-Assignment 10
IIT Kanpur Nov-March 2021-22

Problems 1 − 4 will be discussed in the tutorial.

1. (a) Calculate the magnitude of E ~ and B~ fields associated with a monochromatic light
beam with 2mW power (λ = 632.8nm) propagating in i) vacuum and ii) glass of
refractive index 1.5. The beam cross-section is 0.5mm2 . Comment on the relative
strengths of E~ and B ~ fields and the way light propagates in a non-conducting
medium.
(b) Calculate the radiation pressure exerted by the light beam on a perfectly absorbing
medium and also a perfectly reflecting medium.

2. A plane electromagnetic wave traveling in air (µr = 1; r = 1) has E = ŷ10 ei(4x−3z−ωt)

Vm−1 . The wave falls on a dielectric medium with µr = 1 and r = 1.44 at z = 0 (the
surface of the medium is in x-y plane).
(a) Find the expression for the electric field of the reflected wave.
(b) Find the expression for the electric and the magnetic fields of the transmitted wave.

3. A light wave is incident from air on crown glass (n = 1.52) at an angle θ = π6 . The beam
is linearly polarized in the plane of incidence. Assume that the magnetic permeabilities
are same across the boundary between the two media.
E0R E0T
(a) Determine the amplitude reflection and transmission coefficients, i.e., E0I
and E0I
,
respectively.
(b) Find the angle at which the reflected wave would be completely extinguished.

4. Calculate the time averaged energy density of an electromagnetic plane wave in a con-
ductor. Comment on the contributions due to the magnetic field and electric field in a
conducting medium.

5. Consider a plane wave of angular frequency ω traveling in a conducting medium of

conductivity σ. The electric field is given by E = E0 ei(kx−ωt) ŷ, where k 2 = iµ0 σω.
(a) Find B.
(b) Fine the phase difference between E and B.
(c) Find the contribution of E and B to the energy density.

6. Calculate the reflection coefficient (R) for light beam having angular frequency ω =
4 × 1015 rad/s at an air-to-silver interface. [Given, µair = µAg = µ0 ; Ag ≈ 0 ; σ =
6 × 107 (Ωm)−1 ].

7. Consider light traveling in air (n = 1) which is incident normally on the wall of a

glass plate (n1 = 1.5) of thickness a and eventually passes into water. Find the overall
transmission coefficient T (from air to water) and plot it as a function of k1 a where k1
is the wave-number of the light in glass. The refractive index of water is n2 = 1.3.

Phy103AA: Physics II Soumik Mukhopadhyay

Phy103AA Page 2 of 2 Assignment 10

8. Consider a plane polarized electromagnetic wave traveling along z direction in a dielectric

of refractive index n1 and incident normally on a ohmic conductor of conductivity σ and
refractive index n2 = n1 (1 + iβ), where β is a dimensionless real number. The dielectric-
conductor interface S1 lies in the XY plane. The incident electromagnetic wave is
linearly polarized in the x direction and the corresponding electric field is represented
as E~I = E0I e−i(ωt−k1 z) x̂. Assume µ1 ≈ µ2 ≈ µ0 (the free space permeability). The
amplitudes of reflected and transmitted electric fields are E0R and E0T , respectively.
(a) Write down the expression for the incident magnetic field.
(b) Write down the expressions for the electric field and magnetic field corresponding
to the transmitted wave.
(c) Find out the free charge density at S1 using appropriate boundary conditions.
(d) What is the free surface current density at S1 ?
(e) Write down the boundary conditions at the dielectric-conductor interface S1 for the
~ and B
components of E ~ fields parallel to the interface to find out the phase change
undergone by the electric field vector of the reflected wave.