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Group 4 - Bilphys18 - The Method of Images

This document discusses the method of images for solving electrostatics problems involving conductors. [1] It introduces the classic problem of calculating the potential above an infinite grounded conducting plane with a point charge above it. [2] The method of images solves this by considering an equal and opposite "image" charge below the plane, producing the same potential as the real system. [3] This induces a surface charge on the conductor satisfying the boundary conditions. Other examples demonstrate finding the induced charge and potential for problems involving a conducting sphere.

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40 views

Group 4 - Bilphys18 - The Method of Images

This document discusses the method of images for solving electrostatics problems involving conductors. [1] It introduces the classic problem of calculating the potential above an infinite grounded conducting plane with a point charge above it. [2] The method of images solves this by considering an equal and opposite "image" charge below the plane, producing the same potential as the real system. [3] This induces a surface charge on the conductor satisfying the boundary conditions. Other examples demonstrate finding the induced charge and potential for problems involving a conducting sphere.

Uploaded by

jessicakh a
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CAMPU

S
Arranged by:
THE METHOD OF IMAGES GROUP 4
GRACE D M NAIBAHO (4183121055)
JESSICA K HARTONO (4183121036)
PATRICIA R SINABUTAR (4182121014)
CONTENTS
01 The Classic Image Problem

02 Induced Surface Charge

03 Force and Energy

04 Other Image Problems


The Classic Image
01 Problem
Suppose a point charge q is held at d above an infinite grounded conducting
plane.
Question: What is the potential in the region above the plane?
 q will induce a certain amount of negative charge on the nearby surface of
the conductor.
 how can we possibly calculate the potential?
 we don't know how much charge is induced,
 or how it is distributed.
 
This problem is to solve Poisson's equation in the
region z > 0, with a single
point charge q at (0, 0, d), subject to the boundary
conditions:
1. V = 0 when z = 0 (since the conducting plane is grounded),
2. V -+ 0 far from the charge.
Trick: Forget about the actual problem.
CAMPUS
Consider two point charges, +q at (0, 0, d) and -q at (0,0, -d),
and no conducting plane.

It produces exactly the same potential as the original


configuration, in the "upper“ region z > 0.
Induced charge (-q)

 
1  q q 
V ( x, y , z )  
4 0  2 2
 x  y   z  d  x 2  y 2   z  d  
2 2

This solution also follows that


V = 0 when z = 0 (since the conducting plane is grounded),
V -+ 0 far from the charge.
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th
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r ucia solu t ge d is
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Notice rgument: l d b e lieve d i ff e rent
a e wou pletel y
in t hi s o o n c o m
i t h o u t it, n ined for a es
w o b t a ss um
e it was : s t , a nd a
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t h eo rem in t h e re
q u e n ess e q u a tion
t t h e uni o i s son's a r i e s,
Bu fies P bou nd
t s a t i s t th e
 If i a lue a
c or re c t v
b e r i ght!
the i t m u st
 then
Induced Surface
02 Charge
 
1   q q 
   
4 z  x2  y2  z d 2 x2  y2  z d 2 
    z0
d


Induced charge (-q)
Boundary condition requires that

(in this case)


CAMPUS

The total induced charge is:


 
→ a little easier to use polar coordinates:(r.ϕ),
 
Force and Energy
03
The charge q is attracted toward the plane, because of the induced
charge –q .

Energy, however, is not the same in the two cases.


1) With the two point charges and no conductor:

2) For a single charge and conducting plane the energy is half of this:
(Why?) Think of the energy stored in the fields:
CAMPUS

In the first case à both the regions


(z > 0 and z < 0) contribute equally. But in the
second case à only the upper region contains
a nonzero field

(Why?) By calculating the work required to bring


q in from infinity:

Induced charge (-q)


Other Image Problems
04
Example 3.2 Find the potential outside the sphere.
 
The image charge is

placed a distance

The potential of this configuration is


YO U
ANK
TH

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