Poi

ntchargeabovea grounded plane

A point charge q is at a distance d above an infinite grounded
conducting plane located in the x-y plane. What is the potential
in the region above the plane?

z 2 q 3
∇ V = − ϵ δ ( x , y , z−d)
0
+q
Boundary conditions:
V = 0 at z = 0
d V = 0 for x2 + y2 + z2 ≫ d 2

q NO!
y Is V (r) = ?
4 π ϵ0 r

The charge q induces negative charge

on the surface of the conductor. The
total potential is due to the point
x charge and this induced surface charge.
 Poi
ntchargeabovea grounded plane
Place a charge q' at a distance d' below the plane. Remove the
conducting plane. Calculate the potential due to this new
configuration of two point charges.
z Potential at a point P (x , y , z) ,
+q
V=
1
4 π ϵ0 [√ 2 2
x + y +(z−d)
q
2
+
√ x 2
+ y
q'
2
+(z+ d ')2
]
d
Can we choose q' and d' such that the boundary
conditions of the original problem are satified?
y
V =0 at z=0
q q'
⇒ = −
d’ √ x + y +d
2 2 2
√ x + y +d'
2 2 2

x ⇒ q' = −q
q’ d' = d
V =0 for x 2 + y2 + z2 ≫ d 2
 Poi
ntchargeabovea grounded plane

+q
z
V=
q
4 π ϵ0 [√ 2 2
1
x + y +( z−d) 2
−
√ x 2
+ y
1
2
+( z+ d)2 ]
What equation does this potential satisfy?
d
1
∇ V = − ϵ [ q δ ( x , y , z−d)−q δ ( x , y , z+ d) ]
2 3 3

y 0

If we focus on the upper half plane z > 0

d 2 q 3
∇ V = − ϵ δ ( x , y , z−d)
0
x with, V =0 at z = 0
-q and, V =0 for x 2 + y2 + z2 ≫ d 2

This is precisely the definition of our original problem!

Thus, by the uniqueness theorem, this potential must be
the solution of our original problem!
 Poi
ntchargeabovea grounded plane

V=
q
4 π ϵ0 [√ 2 2
1
x + y +( z−d)2
−
1
√ x + y +( z+ d)
2 2 2 ] for z > 0

The “virtual” charge is equal and opposite to the original source

charge, and its distance is equal to the object distance.

METHOD OF IMAGE CHARGES

Guess some configuration of image charges that satisfy

Poisson’s equation in the region of interest and satisfies the
boundary conditions. Uniqueness theorem guarantees that
this MUST be the solution to the problem.
 Poi
ntchargeabovea grounded plane

V=
q
4 π ϵ0 [√ 2 2
1
x + y +( z−d) 2
−
1
√ x + y +( z+ d)
2 2 2 ] for z > 0

What is the induced surface charge density on the conductor?

σ = −ϵ0
∂V
∂n
= −ϵ0
∂V
∂z | z=0

∂V
∂z
=
q
[ −( z−d)
4 π ϵ0 [ x + y +( z−d) ]
2 2 2 3/2
+ 2 2
( z+ d)
[ x + y +( z+d)2 ]3/2 ]
q 2d Induced charge is negative
σ =−
4 π [ x 2 + y2 + d 2 ]3/ 2 Maximum charge density at origin

|
2π ∞
qd ∞
ρdρdϕ qd
Qinduced = ∫ σ da = − ∫ ∫ = = −q
2 π ρ=0 ϕ=0 (ρ +d )
2 2 3/ 2
√ρ + d 0
2 2
Poi
ntchargeabovea grounded plane

What is the force on the point charge due to the induced

charges on the conductor?

1 q2
F= (− z^ )
4 π ϵ0 (2 d)2

What is the work done to bring in the point charge from

infinity to d?
d 0
1 q2 q2
W =∫ F .dl = ∫ dz = −
∞ 4 π ϵ0 ∞ 4 z 2
16 π ϵ0 d

Note that this is half of the energy of a system with two

charge +q and -q at a distance (2d) apart.
 METHOD OFI
MAGECHARGES
A charge distribution and some boundary conditions are given.
The usual boundary conditions are fixed potentials over some
surfaces. Solve for V(r) in a certain region.

1. Put some point charges (external charges) in the regions not

part of the region where you need to solve for the potential.

2. Try to arrange these external charges such that the given

charges plus the external charges produce the desired potential
at the boundaries. Forget all else!

3. Calculate the total potential in the desired region using all

the given charges PLUS the external charges.
4. The total field / potential produced by ALL the charges is
the solution to the problem. The extra charges are called
IMAGE CHARGES
 Poi
ntcharge+Two SEMI
-infi
nitePLANES

Consider two semi-infinite grounded, conducting planes

intersecting along the z-axis, which is taken to be out of plane
of the screen (x-y plane). A charge +q is located at (a,b).

➢ What is the potential in the region between the planes?

➢ What is the force on q due to the charges induced on the planes?

a
+q

b
q
Poi
ntcharge+Two SEMI
-infi
nitePLANES

-q a a
+q
b
b

b b

+q a a -q

V=
q
4 π ϵ0 [√ 2
1
2
( x−a) +( y−b) + z 2
+
√ ( x+ a)2
+(
1
y+b)2
+ z 2

− 2
1
√( x+ a) +( y−b) + z 2 2
−
1
√( x−a) +( y+b) + z
2 2 2
]
Poi
ntcharge+Two SEMI
-infi
nitePLANES

V=
q
4 π ϵ0 [√ 2
1
2
( x−a) +( y−b) + z 2
+
√ ( x+ a)2
+(
1
y+b)2
+ z 2

− 2
1
√( x+ a) +( y−b) + z
2 2
−
1
√( x−a) +( y+b) + z
2 2 2
]
If, x = 0, V = 0 ∀ y
If, y = 0, V = 0 ∀ x

2 q 3
∇ V = − ϵ δ ( x−a , y−b) in the {x>0, y>0}quadrant
0

This potential satisfies the Poisson’s equation and the

Boundary conditions of the original problem. Thus
Uniqueness Theorem guarantees this is the solution.
Poi
ntcharge+Two SEMI
-infi
nitePLANES

What is the force on the point charge due to the induced

charges on the two conducting planes?

q2
F −q at (a ,−b) = 2
(− y^ )
4 π ϵ0 (2 b)
2
q
F −q at (−a ,b) = 2
(− x^ )
4 π ϵ0 (2 a)
q2
F + q at (−a ,−b) = 2 2 [ cos θ x^ +sin θ y^ ]
4 π ϵ0 (4(a +b ))

Fx =
q2
4 π ϵ0
−
1
[ +
a
4 a 4(a2 +b2 )3/ 2
2
]
Fy =
q2
4 π ϵ0
1
− 2+
[ b
4 b 4(a2 +b2 )3/ 2 ]
 Poi
ntcharge+Two Planesatan angle

-q

+q +q +q
60 60

-q -q

+q
What if the charge was not on
the bisector of the angles?
Poi
ntcharge+Two Planesatan angle

This problem can be solved with a

finite number of image charges if,

+q (Integer) * q = p
q

z
+q

3d
-2q
d Place image charge +2q at -d,
y and image charge -q at -3d

x
Poi
ntchargeOUTSI
DEA CONDUCTI
NG SPHERE

Consider a charge +q kept at a distance a from the centre of

a grounded sphere of radius R. What is the potential at a
point P outside the sphere?

a +q

Boundary conditions:
V = 0 on the surface of the sphere
V = 0 for points far away from +q
Poi
ntchargeOUTSI
DEA CONDUCTI
NG SPHERE
P

r r1
R r2
q
b q’ a +q

VP =
1 q q'
+
(
4 π ϵ0 r 1 r 2 )
=
1
4 π ϵ0 [√ 2 2
q
r + a −2 a r cos θ
+
q'
√ r +b −2 b r cos θ
2 2
]
Choose q ' and b such that the potential is zero over the sphere
Poi
ntchargeOUTSI
DEA CONDUCTI
NG SPHERE

V P (r ,θ) =
1
4 π ϵ0 [√ 2 2
q
r + a −2 a r cos θ
+
q'
√ r +b −2 b r cos θ
2 2 ]
Boundary condition: V (r= R ,θ) = 0 ∀ θ
q2 ( R2 +b2−2 b R cos θ) = q ' 2 ( R2 + a2−2 a R cos θ)
Since this must hold true ∀ θ , we equate the coefficient of cos θ ,
2 2
2b R q = 2 a R q'

⇒ q ' = −q
b
a √
Substituting in the θ independent terms, we have
b
R2 +b2 = ( R2 + a2)
a
⇒ ab = R2
⇒ b = R2 / a
Poi
ntchargeOUTSI
DEA CONDUCTI
NG SPHERE

[ ]
q 1 R/ a
V P (r ,θ) = −
√ r + a −2 a r cos θ
√
4 π ϵ0 2 2

( ) ( )
R4 2
R
r 2 + 2 −2 r cos θ
a a

=
q
4 π ϵ0 [√ 2 2
1
r + a −2 a r cos θ
−
√ r 2 2
a + R 4
R
−2 R 2
a r cos θ ]
Surface charge density,

σ = −ϵ0
∂V
∂n
= −ϵ0
∂V
∂r |
r= R

σ =−
q
[ −R+ a cos θ
4 π ( R +a −2 a r cos θ)
2 2 3/2
+ 2 2
R(a2 R− R2 a cos θ)
( R a + R4−2 R3 a cos θ)3/ 2 ]
q R2−a2
=
4 π R ( R2 + a2−2 a r cos θ)3/2
Poi
ntchargeOUTSI
DEA CONDUCTI
NG SPHERE

q R2−a2
σ=
4 π R ( R2 + a2−2 a r cos θ)3/2
The surface charge density is negative, as expected.
π 2π
Q induced = ∫ σ da = ∫ ∫ σ ( R , θ) R2 sin θ d θ d ϕ
0 0

q( R2−a2 ) π
sin θ d θ
= 2π R ∫ 2 2
2

4π R 0 ( R +a −2 aR cos θ)
3/2

2 2 +1
q R( R −a ) dx
=
2
∫ 2 2 3/2
−1 ( R + a −2 aR x)
2 2
q R( R −a ) −1/ 2 −1
=
4aR
[ ( R +a −2 aR x) ]+1
2 2

R
= −q
a
Poi
ntchargeOUTSI
DEA CONDUCTI
NG SPHERE

What is the force on the charge due to the induced charges on

the sphere?
2
1 qq ' 1 q Ra
F= =−
4 π ϵ0 (a−b) 2
4 π ϵ0 (a2− R2)2

What happens as R → ∞ ?
Let, d → the distance of the charge from the surface of the sphere
2
R
a = d+ R ⇒ b =
d+ R
Distance of the image charge from the surface
2
R Rd
b' = R−b = R− = → d as R→∞
d+ R d+ R
What happens when the conductor is not grounded
but held at some constant potential V 0 ≠ 0 ?