CHAPTER 6

LAPLACE’S EQUATION, POISSON’S

EQUATION AND UNIQUENESS
THEOREM
6.1 LAPLACE’S AND POISSON’S EQUATIONS
6.2 UNIQUENESS THEOREM
6.3 SOLUTION OF LAPLACE’S EQUATION IN ONE VARIABLE
6. 4 SOLUTION FOR POISSON’S EQUATION

1
 6.0 LAPLACE’S AND POISSON’S EQUATIONS
AND UNIQUENESS THEOREM

- In realistic electrostatic problems, one seldom knows the charge

distribution – thus all the solution methods introduced up to this
point have a limited use.
- These solution methods will not require the knowledge of the
distribution of charge.
 6.1 LAPLACE’S AND POISSON’S EQUATIONS
To derive Laplace’s and Poisson’s equations , we start with Gauss’s
law in point form :

  D    E   v (1)

Use gradient concept : E  V (2)

    V   v
v (3)
  V  

Operator :     2 (4)

v
Hence :  V 
2
V / m2 (5) => Poisson’s equation

is called Poisson’s equation applies to a homogeneous media.
When the free charge density v 0

 2V  0 V / m 2 (6) => Laplace’s equation

In rectangular coordinate :

 2
V  2
V  2
V
V 2  2  2
2

x y z
 6.2 UNIQUENESS THEOREM
Uniqueness theorem states that for a V solution of a particular
electrostatic problem to be unique, it must satisfy two criterion :
(i) Laplace’s equation
(ii) Potential on the boundaries

Example : In a problem containing two infinite and parallel conductors,

one conductor in z = 0 plane at V = 0 Volt and the other in the z = d
plane at V = V0 Volt, we will see later that the V field solution between
the conductors is V = V0z / d Volt.
This solution will satisfy Laplace’s equation and the known boundary
potentials at z = 0 and z = d.

Now, the V field solution V = V0(z + 1) / d will satisfy Laplace’s equation

but will not give the known boundary potentials and thus is not a
solution of our particular electrostatic problem.
Thus, V = V0z / d Volt is the only solution (UNIQUE SOLUTION) of our
particular problem.
6.3 SOLUTION OF LAPLACE’S EQUATION IN ONE VARIABLE
Ex.6.1: Two infinite and parallel conducting planes are separated d
meter, with one of the conductor in the z = 0 plane at V = 0 Volt and the
other in the z = d plane at V = V0 Volt. Assume  v  0 and   2 0
between the conductors.
Find : (a) V in the range 0 < z < d ; (b) E between the conductors ;
(c) D between the conductors ; (d) Dn on the conductors ; (e)  s on
the conductors ; (f) capacitance per square meter.

Solution :
(a) Since  v  0 and the problem is in rectangular form, thus

 2
V  2
V  2
V
 V  2  2  2 0
2
(1)
x y z
We note that V will  2
V
 2V  0 (2)
be a function of z z 2
only V = V(z) ;
d 2V d2  V 
thus :   0 (3)
dz 2
dz  dz 

Integrating twice : dV
A (4)
dz
V  Az  B (5)

where A and B are constants and

must be evaluated using given
V z 0
B0 (6)
potential values at the
boundaries :
V z d
 Ad  V0
 A  V0 / d (7)
Substitute (6) and (7) into general equation (5) :

V0
V  z (V ) 0 z d
d

(b)  V V V 
E  V   x ˆ y
ˆ  zˆ 
 x y z 
V V
  zˆ   zˆ 0 (V / m)
z d

(c)
2 0V0
D  E   zˆ (C / m 2 )
d
(d) Surface charge : (e) Capacitance :

2 0V0 C  Q / Vab
s z 0
 D  nˆ   zˆ  zˆ
d  s ds
2 0V0 
 V0
d
2 0V0 s
s z d
 D  nˆ   zˆ  ( zˆ )  C / m 
2

d V0
2 V 2 0V0 / d 
 0 0 (C / m 2 )   (F / m2 )
d
V0 d

z=d V = V0 V

z=0 V=0V
Ex.6.2: Two infinite length, concentric and conducting cylinders of
radii a and b are located on the z axis. If the region between cylinders
are charged free and   3 0 , V = V0 (V) at a, V = 0 (V) at b and b > a.
Find the capacitance per meter length.

Solution : Use Laplace’s equation in cylindrical coordinate :

and V = f(r) only :

1   V  1  2
V  2
V
V
2
r  2  2 0
r r  r  r  2
z
and V = f(r) only :

1   V 
V 
2
r 0
r r  r 
  V 
r 0
r  r 
 V 
r  A
 r 
V A

r r
V  A ln r  B (1)
Boundary condition :
V  A ln r  B (1)
V r a
 V0  A ln a  B
V r b
 0  A ln b  B

Solving for A and B :

V0  V0 ln b
A ; B
ln a / b  ln a / b 

Substitute A and B in (1) :

V0 lnb / r 
V  arb
lnb / a 
;
 V V0 V0 lnb / r 
E  V  rˆ  rˆ V 
r r ln b / a  lnb / a 
V0
D  E  rˆ
r ln b / a 

Surface charge densities: Line charge densities :

V0 2V0
 s r a  D  rˆ    r a   s r a 2a  
a ln b / a  ln b / a 
V0 2V0
 s r b  D  rˆ     r b   s r b 2b   
b ln b / a  ln b / a 
Capacitance per unit length:

Q   d
C 
Vab Vo

 2
C/m  ( F / m)
V0 ln b / a 
Ex.6.3: Two infinite conductors form a wedge located at
  0 and    / 6 is as shown in the figure below. If this region is
characterized by charged free. Find V and E . Assume V = 0 V at   0
and V  100 V at    / 6 .
z

 = /6
x  = 0 V = 100V
Solution : V = f (  ) in cylindrical coordinate :

1 d 2
V Boundary condition :
V  2
2
0
r d 2
V  0
0B
d 2V V  100  A( / 6)
0   / 6
d 2

A  600 / 
dV
 A
d
Hence :

600
V  A  B V 

1 dV ˆ for region :
E  V   
r d 0   /6
600 ˆ
 
r
 Ex.6.4: Two infinite concentric conducting cone located at
   / 10 and    / 6 . The potential V = 0 V at    / 10
and V = 50 V at    / 6 . Find V and E between the two
conductors.
Solution : V = f (  ) in spherical coordinate :

1 d  dV  z
V  2
2
sin   0
r sin  d  d 
d  dV 
sin   0
d  d 
dV  = /10
sin  A
d
 = /6
dV A
 V = 50 V
d sin  y
V  A lntan  / 2   B x
d
Using :   lntan  / 2 
sin 
Boundary condition : V  A ln tan  / 2  B
V   / 10  0  A lntan  / 20  B
V   / 6  50  A lntan  / 12  B
Solving for A and B :
50 50 ln tan  / 20
A ;B
 tan  / 12   tan  / 12 
ln   ln  
 tan  / 20   tan  / 20 

Hence at region : / 10     / 6
50 tan  / 2
V  ln 1 dV ˆ
 tan  / 12  tan  / 20 and E  V  
ln  r d
 tan  / 20 
95.1 ˆ
 tan  / 2   
 95.1 ln  r sin 
 0.1584 
 6. 4 SOLUTION FOR POISSON’S EQUATION
When the free charge density v 0
Ex.6.5: Two infinite and parallel conducting planes are separated d
meter, with one of the conductor in the x = 0 plane at V = 0 Volt and the
other in the x = d plane at V = V0 Volt. Assume  v  0 and   4 0
between the conductors.
Find : (a) V in the range 0 < x < d ; (b) E between the conductors

Solution : v
V = f(x) :  2V  

d 2V 0
 
dx 2 
dV 
 0 x A
dx 
0 x 2
V   Ax  B
 2
Boundary condition :
0 x 2
V 0B V   Ax  B
x 0  2
0 d 2
V x d V 0   Ad
 2
V0  0 d
A 
d  2

In region : 0 xd
0 x V0 dV
V d  x   x ; E  xˆ
 2 d dx
V0  0  d 
      x  xˆ
d  2 
Ex.6.6: Repeat Ex.6.5 with v  0 and  r  1  x

Solution :
  D  v
  E  0
d
1  x  0 E  0
dx
d
1  x  V   0
dx
 dV 
1  x    A
 dx 
 dV  A
 
 dx  1 x
V   A ln( 1  x )  B
Boundary condition :

V x 0
0B
V x d
 V0   A ln(1  d )
V0
 A
ln(1  d )
V   A ln( 1  x)  B
In region : 0 xd
ln(1  x )
V  V0
ln(1  d )
dV V0
E  xˆ   xˆ
dx (1  x ) ln(1  d )