PHY 5346

HW Set 2 Solutions – Kimel

5. 2.2 The system is described by

a) Using the method of images

1 q q′
φx⃗ = +
4π 0 |x⃗ − ⃗
y| |x⃗ − ⃗y′ |
with y ′ = ay , and q ′ = −q ay
2

b) σ = − 0 ∂n∂ φ|x=a = + 0 ∂x∂ φ|x=a

1 ∂ q q′
σ = 0 +
4π 0 ∂x x 2 + y 2 − 2xy cos γ
1/2
x 2 + y ′2 − 2xy ′ cos γ
1/2

y2
a 1−
σ = −q 1 a2
4π y 2 + a 2 − 2ay cos γ 3/2
Note
y2
q induced = a 2 ∫ σdΩ = −q 1 a 2 2πa 1 − 2 ∫ −1
1
dx , where x = cos γ
4π 3/2
a y 2 + a 2 − 2ayx
q 2
q induced = − aa 2 − y 2  = −q
2 aa 2 − y 2 
c)
qq ′ 1 q 2 ay
|F| = = , the force is attractive, to the right.
4π 0 y ′ − y 2 4π 0 a 2 − y 2 
d) If the conductor were fixed at a different potential, or equivalently if extra charge were put on
the conductor, then the potential would be
q q′
φx⃗ = 1 + +V
4π 0 |x⃗ − ⃗y| |x⃗ − ⃗y′ |
and obviously the electric field in the sphere and induced charge on the inside of the sphere would
remain unchanged.