Consider a block of conducting material of resistivity ρ shown in the figure. Current I enters at A and leaves from D. We apply superposition principle to find voltage ΔV developed between B and C. The calculation is done in the following steps.
(i) Take current I entering from A and assume it to spread over a hemispherical surface in the block.
Calculate field E(r) at distance r from A by using ohm's law E=ρj, where j is the current per unit area at r.
(iii) From the r dependence of E(r) obtain the potential V(r) at r.
(iv) Repeat (i), (ii) and (iii) for current I leaving D and superpose results for A and D
For current entering at A, the electric field at a distance r from A is