9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 1

Today in Physics 217: the method of images

Solving the Laplace and
Poisson equations by
sleight of hand
Introduction to the
method of images
Caveats
Example: a point charge
and a grounded
conducting sphere
Multiple images
y
x
b b
b b
a
a
q
q -q
-q
a
a
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 2
Solving the Laplace and Poisson equations by
sleight of hand
The guaranteed uniqueness of solutions has spawned several
creative ways to solve the Laplace and Poisson equations for
the electric potential. We will treat three of them in this class:
Method of images (today).
Very powerful technique for solving electrostatics
problems involving charges and conductors.
Separation of variables
Perhaps the most useful technique for solving partial
differential equations. Youll be using it frequently in
quantum mechanics too.
Multipole expansion
Fermi used to say, When in doubt, expand in a power
series. This provides another fruitful way to approach
problems not immediately accessible by other means.
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 3
Introduction to the method of images
A point charge lies a distance d above
a infinite, conducting, grounded
plane. Calculate the potential V
everywhere above the plane.
This looks like a Laplace-equation
problem, and we know some
boundary conditions at the plane:
But theres charge induced on the
grounded [Link] electrostatic
potential can not be calculated
directly without knowing the
induced charge distribution.
z
q
d
0, 0.
x y
V E E = = =
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 4
Introduction to the method of images (continued)
Consider alternatively the situation
of two point charges q and q,
separated by 2d.
The potential can be calculated
directly and is equal to
Note that is
automatically satisfied. This also
gives V = 0 on the plane z = 0, just
as it would need to be for the
grounded plane.
q
z
d
-q
d
( )
( )
( )
2
2
2
2
, ,

q
V s z
s z d
q
s z d
=
+

+
+ +
2
4 V =
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 5
Introduction to the method of images (continued)
The potential yields the electric field, as usual:
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
3 2 3 2
2 2
2 2
3 2 3 2
2 2
2 2
3 2
2 2
, above
3 2
2 2
1

, ,

2
Note , , 0 ,
, , 0
whence , .
4
2
V V V
s z V
s s z
q q
s z d s z d
q z d q z d
s z d s z d
qdz
s
s d
E s
qd
s
s d

= = + +

=
( (
+ + +

+
+
( (
+ + +

=
+
= =
+
E s z
s s
z z
E

No dependence
E perpendicular to z = 0 plane,
at z = 0, just as it would need to
be with the grounded plane.
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 6
Introduction to the method of images (continued)
Thus, for , the two-charge
potential satisfies the Poisson
equation and the boundary
conditions for the single charge
grounded plane problem: it is
a solution to this problem.
But there is no a solution,
only the solution, because
solutions of electrostatics
problems are unique.
q
z
d
-q
d
z
q
d
z 0
=
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 7
Introduction to the method of images (continued)
How did we know this would
work? Is there a method by
which we could guess these
solutions in general?
Yes. The auxiliary charge is
the image of the original
charge in the mirror that
comprises the grounded
conducting plane. Other
configurations of charges and
grounded conductors can be
treated similarly: as if they
were objects, images and
mirrors in geometrical optics.
q
z
-q
Mirror
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 8
Caveats for the method of images
The solution for the images is only the same as that for the
conductor, in the region outside the conductor! In
particular, the field is still zero, and the potential constant,
inside the conductor. Remember that the image charge
doesnt really exist.
In particular, the potential energy of the
charge+conductor arrangement is quite different from the
charge-image charge combination, because the field is
finite for the latter in locations where the field of the
former is zero. (Got it?)
Remind yourself of these facts by noting, in every image
solution, that you can calculate the induced charge on the
surface of the grounded conductor.
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 9
Potential for a point charge and a grounded sphere
(Example 3.2 + Problem 3.7 in Griffiths)
A point charge q is situated a
distance Z from the center of
a grounded conducting
sphere of radius R.
Find the potential
everywhere.
Find the induced surface
charge on the sphere, as
function of . Integrate
this to get the total
induced charge.
Calculate the potential
energy of the system.
R
Z
q
V = 0
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 10
Potential for a point charge and a grounded sphere
(continued)
We need to find a position to put
charge q such that the boundary
conditions on the sphere are satisfied.
Start by determining where this
charge should lie, using the points
along the z axis:
R
Z
q
V = 0
R
Z
q
V = 0
q' z'
d'
d
( )
( )
0
0
P
Q
q q
V
Z R R z
q
q R z
Z R
q q
V
Z R R z
q
q R z
Z R

= = +

= = +

+ +

= +
+
P
Q
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 11
Potential for a point charge and a grounded sphere
(continued)
Now consider an arbitrary point on the sphere, P:
R
Z
q
V = 0
q' z'
d'
d
P
Q
( ) ( )
( )( ) ( )( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( )
2
2 2
So
Rearrange:
2
2
,
q q
R z R z
Z R Z R
Z R R z Z R R z
z Z R z Z R Zz
R Z R R Z R R
q q R R R
z q R z R q
Z Z R Z R Z Z

= +
+

+ = +

+ + =
= + =
| |

= = + = + =
|
|
+ +
\ .
P
2 2
4 2
2 2 2
2
2 cos
2 cos 2 cos
d R Z RZ
R R
d R z Rz R R
Z
Z

= +

= + = +

9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 12

Potential for a point charge and a grounded sphere
(continued)
The potential should come out to be zero there, and sure enough,
Thus the potential outside the grounded sphere is given by the
superposition of the potential of the charge q and the image charge q.
2 2 4 2
2
2
2 2 4 2
2
2
2 2 2 2
2 cos
2 cos
2 cos
2 cos
0
2 cos 2 cos
P
R
q
q q q
Z
V
d d
R Z RZ R R
R R
Z
Z
R
q
q
Z
R Z RZ R R
R R
Z
Z
q q
R Z RZ R Z RZ

= + = +

+
+

= +
+
+
= =
+ +
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 13
Potential for a point charge and a grounded sphere
(continued)
So the potential at some point outside the sphere is given by
Now for the induced charge density:
Differentiate the formula above for the potential, and evaluate it at r = R:
2 2 4 2
2
2
2 2 2
2
2 cos
2 cos
2 cos
2 cos
R
q
q
Z
V
r Z rZ R R
r r
Z
Z
q q
r Z rZ
rZ
R rZ
R

= +
+
+
=
+
| |
+
|
\ .
( )
, , r
1 1
4 4
r
V
E
r

= =

9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 14

Potential for a point charge and a grounded sphere
(continued)
( )
( ) ( )
( )
2
2
3/2 3/2
2 2 2
2
2
3/2 3/2
2 2 2 2
2 2
3/2
2 2
2 2
cos
cos
2 cos
2 cos
cos
cos
2 cos 2 cos
2 cos
1
4 4
r R
r R
r R
rZ
Z
V r Z
R
q
r
r Z rZ
rZ
R rZ
R
Z
Z
R Z
R
q q
R Z RZ Z R RZ
q Z R
R
R Z RZ
q V Z R
r R
R

=
=
=
(
(
+
(
+
(
=
(
| |
+
| |
(
+ |
|
|
(
\ .
\ .

+
+
=
+ +

=
+

= =

( )
3/2
2 2
2 cos Z RZ +
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 15
Potential for a point charge and a grounded sphere
(continued)
From this we get the total charge induced on the grounded sphere:
( )
( )
( )
2 2 2
3/2
0
2 2
2 2
2 2
0
2 2
sin
sin
2
2 cos
1
2
2 cos
1 1
2
q d
Q R d d R Z R
R Z RZ
q
ZR
R Z R
R Z RZ
q Z R R
q
Z R Z R Z Z

= =
+
(

(
=
(
+ (
(

(

= =
(
+
(


Goes to zero as Z
goes to infinity.
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 16
Potential for a point charge and a grounded sphere
(continued)
Potential energy: first, the force between the charge and image,
and then the work to bring q in from infinity:
( )
( )
2
2 2 2
2 2 2

qq
R
q q
qq ZRq
Z
Z z
R Z R
Z
Z

| |

\ .
= = =

| |

|
|
\ .
F z z z
( )
( )
2 2 2
2 2 2
2 2
2 2
1
2
2
Z
Z Z
qq
zRq Rq Rq
W d dz
Z R
z R
z R

= = = =

F l
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 17
Multiple images
Heres a hint for Problem 3.10, on
this weeks homework:
Two semi-infinite grounded
conducting planes meet at right
angles. In the region between
them, there is a point charge q,
situated as shown at right. Set up
the image configuration, and
calculate the potential in this
region. What charges do you need,
and where should they be located?
What is the force on q? How much
work did it take to bring q in from
infinity?
y
x
b
a
q
V=0
V=0
9 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 18
Multiple images (continued)
In order to satisfy the
boundary conditions, three
image charges must be
added to the system.
The net force on q can be
calculated by determining
the vector sum of the
forces on q due to the
three image charges.
The electrostatic energy
of the real system is equal
to 1/4 of the electrostatic
energy of the image-
charge system.
y
x
b b
b b
a
a
q
q -q
-q
a
a