ELECTRIC FLUX DENSITY VECTOR AND DIELECTRIC CONSTANT
In free space the differential form of Gauss’s law is given by
v
E
0
where v is the volume charge density of free charges. In dielectric, materials the volume
bound charge density must be introduced at that point:
1
E v vb ; vb P
0
E
1
0
v P
0 E P v
0 E P v .
Defining a new vector named as electric flux density vector (or displacement vector)
D;
D 0E P
We can get the differential form of Gauss’s law in terms of D as
D v .
It is obvious that this is the representation of Gauss’s law in free space in terms of in terms of
D . This means that, representation of Gauss’s law in both dielectric and free space in terms of
D instead of E are same.
For the linear and isotropic media, the polarization and electric field intensity vectors
are proportional; Let
P 0 e E
where e is the electric susceptibility of the dielectric and if e is independent of E , the
medium is named as linear while if e is independent of coordinates the medium is named as
homogennous medium. So, for the linear and isotropic media we can write that
D 0 E P 0 E 0 e E 0 1 e E
D 0 r E E
where
r 1 e
0
1
is referred to relative permittivity or dielectric constant of the dielectric and is referred to
the absolute permittivity (or permittivity shortly) of the dielectric.
Example:
Inside a dielectric sphere of radius “a” and permittivity are distributed free charges of volume
density kR , where k is a constant and R is the distance of a point inside the sphere from its
center. Find the potential at the center of the sphere and also the volume and surface density of
the polarization charges.
Solution:
a R
s1
R
s2 y
x v kR
R a , (on s2 )
D
s2
1 ds v dv
v
2 R
D1 (4 R 2 ) kR( R sin dRd d )
2
0 0 0
R R
R4
D1 (4 R ) 4 k R dR 4 k
2 3
0
4 0
R4 R2 R2
D1 (4 R 2 ) 4 k D1 k ; D1 k aR
4 4 4
D1 R2
D1 E1 ; E1 k aR .
4
R a , (on s1 )
D
s1
2 ds v dv
v
2
2 a
D2 (4 R 2 ) kR( R sin dRd d )
2
0 0 0
a a
R4
D2 (4 R ) 4 k R dR 4 k
2 3
0
4 0
a4 a4 a4
D2 (4 R 2 ) 4 k D2 k ; D2 k aR
4 4R2 4R2
D2 a4
D2 0 E2 ; E2 k 2 aR
0 4R 0
0 a 0
V (0) E dR E2 dR E1 dR
a
a 0
ka 4 dR k
V (0)
4 0 R 2
4 a
R 2 dR
a 0
ka 2 1 k R3 ka3 ka3 ka3
V (0) ( 0 3 )
4 0 R 4 3 a 4 0 12 12 0
P D 0E
R2 R2 R2
P1 D1 0 E1 k aR 0 k aR k 1 0 a R
4 4 4
P2 D2 0 E2 0
1 1 R4 0
vb P1 2
R R
R PR R2 R k 4 1
2
k
2
kR 3 1 0 kR 1 0
1
vb
R 4
a2 0
sb P an k 1 .
R a 4
Boundary Conditions on the Interface Between Two Dielectrics
As in the case of the interface between conductor and free space, the boundary
conditions between two dielectrics can be derived using the fact that; the line integral of static
electric field around a closed contour is zero, and Gauss’s law:
Relations between the tangential components:
3
E1
a
1
b
2
d
h
0
c E2
w
The line integral of static electric field around the closed contour abcd is zero:
0( h 0) 0( h 0)
b c d a
abcd
E dl E1 dl E dl
a b
E2 dl E dl
c d
0
Since
b
E1 dl E1t dl and E
a
1 dl E1t w
and
d
E2 dl E2t dl and E
c
2 dl E2t w
so,
abcd
E dl E1t w E2t w 0
Means that;
E1t E2t
The tangential components of the electric field intensity vector is continious across the
boundary between two dielectric media.
Using the constitutive equation
D E
the relation between the tangential components of electric flux density vector is derived as
follows:
D1t D2t
E1t and E2 t
1 2
Means that
4
D1t D2t
1 2
İt is obvious that the tangential component of the electric flux density vector is not continious across
the boundary
Relations between the tangential components:
D1 an 2
E
s
s
1
2
h
0
D2
a n1
Using Gauss’s law for the closed cylindrical surface, we can write that;
0( h 0)
D ds
s
top
D1 ds
bottom
D2 ds
side
D ds Qt
surface surface wall
Note that here
ds dsan and an1 an 2 ,
D1 ds D1n ds ; and
top
D1 ds D1n s ,
surface
D2 ds D2n ds and
top
D2 ds D2n s
surface
so
D ds D
s
1n s D2 n s s s
or
D1n D2n s
5
Means that the normal component od electric flux density vector across a boundary between
two dielectrics is discontinios if surface charge exists: But if the dielectrics are perfect, then
there will be no cahrges induced on the boundary and the relation between the normal
components can be expressed in this case as
D1n D2 n (The normal component of displacement vector is continious)
And using the constitutive equation again we can get the relation between the normal
components of the electric field intensity vector as;
1E1n 2 E2n .
Example:
The space is divided into two regions; y 0 is the first region occupied by a dielectric having
relative permittivity r1 2 , and y 0 is the second region which is occupied by a dielectric
having relative permittivity r 2 9 . If the electric field in region-1 at y 0 is given by
E1 2ax 3ay 4az
y 0
determine E2 and D2 in region-2 at the interface.
Solution:
z
r1 2 r2 9
y
E1t E2t 2ax 4az
E1n 3a y ; D1n 1E1n 0 r1E1n 2 0 (3a y ) 6 0 a y
D1n D2n 6 0 a y
D2 n 6 0 a y 2
E2 n ay
2 9 0 3
2 2
E2 E2t E2 n 2ax 4az a y 2ax a y 4az .
3 3
D2 2 E2 0 r 2 E2 9 0 E2
D2 18 0 ax 6 0 a y 36 0 az .
Capacitor and Capacitance
6
Two conductor bodies separated by a dielectric medium forms a capacitor. The shape of the
conducting bodies may be in different geometries, for instance if they are flat plates the
capacitor is named as parallel plate capacitor.
When a dc voltage V12 is applied to the conducting bodies as shown below the charges are
separated; a negative charge q accumulates on one of the bodies leaving an equal amount of
positive charge q on the other plate.
d
The amount of charge separated and the applied potential difference are proportional as
Q V12
and the proportionality constant between them is referred to capacitance of the capacitor;
Q
C .
V12
To determine the capacitance of a given capacitor:
1. Choose an appropriate coordinate system.
2. Assume charges Q and Q on the conductors.
3. Find the E between the conductors due to the separated charges, applying Gauss’s law
or the integral expression.
4. Find the voltage difference between the conductors from
1
V12 E dl
2
5. Find the capacitance of the system as the ratio of the assumed charge to the evaluated
voltage difference
Q
C .
V12
Example:
7
A parallel plate capacitor consists of two parallel conducting plates of area “A”, separated by
a distance “d”. The space between the plates is filled with a dielectric of permittivity .
Determine the capacitance of this capacitor
Solution:
1. For the given geometry the appropriate coordinate system is the Cartesian coordinate
system, since the location of the plates can be easily defined in this system as y 0 and
yd.
y
A
yd
E
y 0 x
2. Assume charge Q on the upper and Q on the lower plates as shown above.
Conductors are the equipotential surface and that is why the charges are uniformly
distributed over the surface of the conducting plates, then
Q
s
A
3. For d dimension of the capacitor we can ignore the fringing effect and we can use
Gauss’s law to find electric field intensity between the plates (Remember the application
of Gauss’s law on the interface between a perfect conductor and free space)
1
E ds ds
s s
s
s s s Q
E s ; E a y a y
A
4. The potential difference between the conducting plates will be
y d y d
Q Q
V12
y 0
E dl
y 0
a y
A
(a y dy )
A
d
5. Finally the capacitance of the system is
Q Q A 0 r A
C (Farads).
V12 Q d d
d
A
8
Example:
A cylindrical capacitor consists of an inner conductor of radius “a” and an outer conductor
whose inner radius is “b”. The space between the conductors is filled with a dielectric of
permittivity and the length of the capacitor is “ L ” where L b a . Determine the
capacitance of this capacitor
Solution:
1. For the given geometry the appropriate coordinate system is the cylindrical coordinate
system, since the location of the conductor cylinders can be easily defined in this system
as r a and r b as shown below.
a
Q
Q L
b
2. Assume charge Q on the outer surface of the inner conductor and Q on the inner
surface of the outer conductor as shown above.
3. L b a , this means that Gauss’s law can be applied fort his geometry, choosing a
Gausian cylindrical surface s, between inner and outer conductor;
Q
E ds ;
s
E Er ar and ds rd dzar
L 2
Q Q Q
E rd dz ;
0 0
r Er (2 rL)
; Er
2 rL
and
Q
E ar
2 rL
Q
a a a
Q dr
4. Vab E dl ar drar
b b
2 rL 2 L b r
Q Q Q Q b
ln r b
a
Vab (ln a ln b) (ln b ln a) ln
2 L 2 L 2 L 2 L a
Q Q 2 L
5. C (Farads)
Vab Q b b
ln ln
2 L a a
9
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