1.II.16H

Electromagnetism | Part IB, 2005

For a static charge density ρ(x)\rho(\mathbf{x}) show that the energy may be expressed as

E=12ρϕd3x=ϵ02E2 d3x,E=\frac{1}{2} \int \rho \phi \mathrm{d}^{3} x=\frac{\epsilon_{0}}{2} \int \mathbf{E}^{2} \mathrm{~d}^{3} x,

where ϕ(x)\phi(\mathbf{x}) is the electrostatic potential and E(x)\mathbf{E}(\mathbf{x}) is the electric field.

Determine the scalar potential and electric field for a sphere of radius RR with a constant charge density ρ\rho. Also determine the total electrostatic energy.

In a nucleus with ZZ protons the volume is proportional to ZZ. Show that we may expect the electric contribution to energy to be proportional to Z53Z^{\frac{5}{3}}.

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