How Do Charge Distributions Affect a Spherical Dielectric Shell?

In summary, The question discusses a spherical dielectric shell with different values of dielectric constant inside and outside the shell. The task is to find the electric polarization and electric surface charge density at different points on the shell when a charge Q is placed at its center. The solutions for a) and b) are found to be Q/(4*pi*r^2) * (ε_r-1)/ε_r and 0, respectively. However, there is confusion about the sign of the solution for c) at r = a and r = b, with the correct answers being -Q/(4*pi*a^2) * (ε_r-1)/ε_r and -Q/(4*pi*b^2) * (ε_r-
  • #1
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Homework Statement


Consider a spherical dielectric shell so that ε = ε_0ε_r for a < r < b and ε = ε_0 for 0 < r < a. If a charge Q is placed at the center of the shell, find

a) P for a < r < b
b) ρ_pv for a < r b
c) ρ_ps at r = a and r = b

Homework Equations


ρ_pv = -div(P)
ρ_ps = P [itex]\cdot[/itex]a_n


The Attempt at a Solution


I've managed to solve a) with the answer
Q/(4*pi*r^2) * (ε_r-1)/ε_r​
which is correct (checked the answers).

I've also solved b) which is ρ_pv = 0 since ρ_pv = -div(P).

I have trouble to find ρ_ps at r = a and r = b. The answer states that
-Q/(4*pi*a^2) * (ε_r-1)/ε_r and -Q/(4*pi*b^2) * (ε_r-1)/ε_r​
respectively. Where is that negative sign coming from?
 
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  • #2
On the r = a I would guess that we get a negative sign since we're having a unit vector a_r which goes outward from the origin. And since the normal to the surface when r = a is the -a_r I would guess that the negative sign when r = a is correct. But when r = b, the unit vector from P and a_r are booth positive, so why negative there?
 

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