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6.013/ESD.013J Electromagnetics and Applications, Fall 2005

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6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

September 22, 2005

Lecture 5: The Electric Potential and the Method of Images

I. Nonuniqueness of Voltage in an MQS System

Courtesy of Hermann A. Haus and James R. Melcher. Used with permission.

Courtesy of Hermann A. Haus and James R. Melcher. Used with permission.

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 5
Page 1 of 12

B i da

Sc

E i ds = v

+ iR1 = 0

E i ds = v

C1

+ iR 2 = 0

C2

E i ds =

Cc

d
= i (R 1 + R 2 )
dt

i=

d
1
(R1 + R 2 ) dt

v1 = iR1 =

v2 = iR 2 =

d
+R1
R1 + R 2 dt

d
R 2
R1 + R 2 dt

v1
R
= 1
v2
R2

II. Point Charge Above Ground Plane

1. Potential Electric Field

q
1
p =

2
40
2
2
x + y + ( z d)

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

1
x2 + y2 + ( z + d)

Lecture 5
Page 2 of 12

p _
p _

p _
Ep = p =
ix+
iy+
i

y
z z

x

_
_
_
_
_
_
2 x i x + y i y + ( z d) i z 2 x i x + y i y + ( z + d) i z
q

=
3
3

40
2 2
2 x2 + y2 + ( z d)2 2

2 x2 + y2 + ( z + d)

Ep ( z = 0 ) =

( d)

q
i
z

3
20 2
2
2 2
x +y +d

(perpendicular to equipotential ground plane)

2. Gausss Law Boundary Condition

E i da = dV
0

E i da = ( E
0

0 1 i n1

+ 0 E2 i n2 dS = s dS

(total charge inside pillbox)

s = 0 n i E1 E2

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 5
Page 3 of 12

z=0:

At z=0:
s =

0 n i E1 E2 = 0 i z i E1 = 0Ez =

qd
2 x2 + y2 + d2

qd

2 r2 + d2

r2 = x2 + y2
+

qT ( z = 0 ) =

s dxdy =

y = x =

srdrd =

r =0 = 0

qd

(
2

r =0

rdr
r2 + d2

u = r2 + d2 du = 2rdr

rdr
2

2 2

r +d

qT ( z = 0 ) =

fq =

du

2u

r2 + d2

40 (2d)

+qd

q2

= u

iz =

r + d2

= q

q2
160d2

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 5
Page 4 of 12

III. Point Charge and Sphere

1. Grounded Sphere

From Electromagnetic Field Theory: A Problem Solving Approach,

by Markus Zahn, 1987. Used with permission.

1 q q'
+
40 s s '

s = r2 + D2 2rD cos

(r = R ) = 0

, s ' = b2 + r2 2rb cos

q q'
q
q'
=
=
s
s'
s
s'

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 5
Page 5 of 12

q2s '2 = q'2 s2 q'2 R 2 + D2 2RD cos = q2 b2 + R 2 2Rb cos

q'2 R 2 + D2 = q2 b2 + R 2

+q'2 2 RD cos = +q2 2 Rb cos

q'2
2

b
D

R2

b 2
R + D2 = b2 + R 2 b2 b
+ D + R2 = 0

D
D

(b D) b

b=

R2
D

= 0

R2
D

q'2 = q2

b
R2
= q2 2 q' = qR D
D
D

Force on sphere

fx =

qq'
40 (D b )

q2R D
2

R2
40 D

q2RD

40 D2 R 2

2. Isolated Sphere [Put additional Image Charge +q' = +qR D at center]

(zero charge)

(r = R ) =

q'
q
=
40R
40D

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 5
Page 6 of 12

force on sphere
2

qq' D2 (D b )
q2R 2bD b2
q q'
q'

=
fx =
2
2
2
40 (D b )2 D2
2
40D (D b )

R
3

40D D

fx =

q2RD2
40D

(D

R2
D

q2R 3
R2
2D
=
D

40D3 D2 R 2

2D2 R2

IV. Demonstration 4.7.1 Charge Induced in Ground Plane by Overhead Conductor

Courtesy of Hermann A. Haus and James R. Melcher. Used with permission.

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 5
Page 7 of 12

a x )2 + y2 2
( a x )2 + y2

=
=
ln
ln
1
20
40 ( a + x )2 + y2
( a + x )2 + y2 2

C' =

=
( x = l R, y = 0 )

s = 0Ex
( x = 0 ) = 0

20

=
, ( x = l R, y = 0 ) = U

al+R
l2 R 2 + l
ln

ln
20 a + l R
R

x =0

+ 0 d
2
2
ln ( a x ) + y2 ln ( a + x ) + y2

4 0 dx

2 (a + x)
2 ( a x )

4 ( a x )2 + y2 ( a + x )2 + y2

x =0

a2 + y2

Total Charge per unit length on ground plane is:

T ( x = 0) =

y =

s dy =

(a

+y

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

dy =

a 1
y
tan1
=
a
a

Lecture 5
Page 8 of 12

is =

ds
dq
aA
d
aAC ' dU
A
=
=
2
2
dt
dt
a + y dt
a2 + y2 dt

take U = U0 cos t
v0 = isR s =

C ' Aa

a2 + y2

U0 sin t

V. Point Electric Dipole

1. Potential

q 1 1

40 r+ r
2

r+ =

x2 + y2 + z
2

r =

x2 + y2 + z +
2

Note: ( z = 0 ) = 0

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 5
Page 9 of 12

2. Point Electric Dipole (r>>d)

From Electromagnetic Field Theory: A Problem Solving Approach,

by Markus Zahn, 1987. Used with permission.

r+ r

d
d

cos r 1
cos
2
2r

r r +

d
d

cos r 1 +
cos
2
2r

q
1
1
q
d
d

cos 1
cos

1 +
d
d
40r
40r
2r
2r

1
cos 1 +
cos

2r
2r

lim p = qd (dipole moment)

d 0
q

qd cos
40r2

p cos
40r2

_ 1 _
1 _
E = =
ir +
i+
i
r
r sin

r
=

_
_

2
cos
i
sin
i

r
40r3

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 5
Page 10 of 12

3. Field Lines for Point Electric Dipole:

E
dr
2 cos
= r =
= 2 cot
rd E
sin

dr
= 2 cot d lnr = 2 ln ( sin ) + C
r
r = r0 sin2

r0 = r =

Courtesy of Hermann A. Haus and James R. Melcher. Used with permission.

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 5
Page 11 of 12

VI. Line Current Above a Perfect Conductor

From Electromagnetic Field Theory: A Problem Solving Approach,

by Markus Zahn, 1987. Used with permission.
_

( )

f I = I 0 H

newtons / meter

I _ 0I2 _
= I i z 0
i =
i
4d x 4d y

6.013, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 5

Page 12 of 12