Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ib / Paper 2 / 6C (Electromagnetism)

In electrostatics, Gauss's law is ${\oint }_{\partial \Omega }\mathbf{E}\cdot \mathbf{n}dS=Q_{\mathrm{enclosed}}/{ϵ}_0$, or locally $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{E}={\rho }_e/{ϵ}_0$, where ${\rho }_e$ is charge density and ${ϵ}_0$ is vacuum permittivity. Spherical symmetry makes the electric field radial, and Gauss's law givesChoose the additive constant of the electrostatic potential by $\varphi (\infty )=0$. Using $\mathbf{E}=-\nabla \varphi$ and continuity of potential across each charged shell givesThe field jumps at the shell surfaces, so the displayed formulas are for the requested open regions. The potential difference of the spherical capacitor is $\Delta \varphi =Q(1/a-1/b)/(4\pi {ϵ}_0)$. Thus its capacitance and electrostatic energy areThe energy follows either by charging work ${\int }_0^{Q}q/Cdq$, or directly from $W=({ϵ}_0/2)\int |\mathbf{E}{|}^2{d}^{3}x=Q^2(1/a-1/b)/(8\pi {ϵ}_0)$.