A Solution of the Conducig Plane Imag Problem Without Using The Method Of Images
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Transcript of A Solution of the Conducig Plane Imag Problem Without Using The Method Of Images
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8/14/2019 A Solution of the Conducig Plane Imag Problem Without Using The Method Of Images
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A Solution Of The Conducting Plane Image
Problem Without Using The Method Of Images
-Ishnath Pathak
B.Tech Student, Department of Civil Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology,
North Guwahati, Guwahati 781039
December 1, 2009
A point charge is placed at a distance d from an infinite conducting plane;
what is the charge density on the plane at a distance r from the foot of the
perpendicular to the plane from the point charge? This is the simplest problem
for which the method of images is invoked [1]. Solutions without using the
uniqueness theorems are possible. I havent found any of these anywhere in
the literature, and I present them here. Let the charge be at dk and the upper
surface of the conducting plane be the X-Y plane. On the plane, r (x2+y2)1/2
is the distance from the origin. At any point in space the total field is due in
part to q and in part to the surface charges induced on the plane: E = Eq + E.
The electrostatic force per unit area on the surface is f = 2(r)k/20 [2]. Now
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f(r) = (r)Eq(r) + f(r), where f(r) is the electrostatic force per unit area on
the X-Y plane due to the charges on the plane. By symmetry, it can have no
Z-component. Equating the above two values of f and taking the dot product
with k we get (r)/20 = Eq(r) k = qd/40(r2 + d2)3/2 (fig.1). So, (r) =
qd/2(r2 + d2)3/2.
In this solution I have talked of f and not E as the field on the surface is
discontinuous and it has no well defined value on the surface. Let me present
another solution.
At a general point P on the plane whose distance from the origin is r we have
(Eq)z = qd/40(r2 + d2)3/2, and we know (Eq)z is continuous. On the other
hand (E)z is discontinuous in the amount /0 [3], and by symmetry is the
same above and below in magnitude and its direction on both sides is either
towards the plane or away from the plane. Thus immediately below the plane
(E)z = /20. But below the plane, i.e. inside the conductor, the total field
is zero. So, (Eq)z + (E)z = 0. Hence, = qd/2(r2 + d2)3/2.
Let me present yet another solution. I learnt it from Dr. J.D.Jackson in the
reply to a mail conveying my solution.
Consider any point P on the plane (fig.2). On the conducting plane, the electric
field caused by the point charge and the distribution of surface charges must be
normal to the plane. Otherwise, the charge, free to move, will readjust itself.
Now, since the tangential component of electric field is continuous at a surface
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charge, the net field is normal to the plane both above and below P. If (as in fig.
3(a)) the field just above P due to the surface charges is E(cosk + sinr)
(where r is a unit vector in the plane from the origin O to the point P), then by
symmetry, just below P it is E(cosk sinr) (fig. 3(b)). Since, just above
P the net field is normal, we have Esin = Eqsin. And just below P the net
field is zero, so Ecos = Eqcos. Hence, E = Eq and = . Thus, we see
that the net field just above P is 2Eqcosk. Application of Gausss law to a
pillbox at P that spans the surface (with zero contribution from the side of the
box within the conductor) gives = 20Eqcos = qd/2(r2 + d2)3/2 (fig.1).
By arguing without using an image charge we, in our solution, showed that near
any point on the conducting plane the field due to the induced surface charges
on the plane is constructed by first reflecting qs field in the conducting plane
and then reversing its direction. This is exactly the field of an image charge -q
placed at dk, but we notice that after the fact.
References
[1] Edward.M.Purcell, Electricity and Magnetism, (McGraw-Hill, New York,
1963), 1st ed., pp. 92-93.
[2] David.J.Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics, (Prentice Hall, Engle-
wood Cliffs, NJ, 1989), 2nd ed., eq-3.10, p.121.
[3] J.D.Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics, (John Wiley, New York, 1999), 3rd
ed., eq-1.22, p.31.
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FIGURE CAPTIONS
Fig. 1. A point charge q is held at a distance d from an infinite conducting
plane. The normal component of the field of q at a point on the plane distant r
from the foot of the perpendicular to the plane from the point charge is Eq k
or Eqcos, i.e. qd/40(r2 + d2)3/2.
Fig. 2. A point charge q lies at dk above the X-Y plane. The region z0 is filled
with grounded conducting material.
Fig.3. The electric fields of the point charge and the surface charge (a) just
above and (b) just below the X-Y plane. The vertical line shown is a line
through P parallel to the z axis.
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