The method of images

October 24, 2015

In a given limited region, the solution for the potential is unique once we know the boundary conditions.
By placing additional charges outside the region of interest we can sometimes reproduce the desired boundary
condition, allowing us to easily write the solution.

1 Charge near an infinite plane conductor

Consider the problem of finding the electric potential due to a single charge Q held a distance d from an
infinite conducting plane. We examine two cases. In the first, the plane is grounded so it is at zero potential.
In the second case, we add a net area charge density, σ, to the plane.
In these two examples, the region of interest is the region on the same side (the +x side) of the plane as
the charge Q. We are not interested in fields on the (−x) side.

1.1 Grounded plane

Suppose we have an infinite conducting plane held (by grounding) at zero potential, then place a single
charge Q a distance d away. Let the position of Q be on the x-axis at x1 = dî.
In this case, the boundary condition follows from the properties of a conductor. Charges in the conductor
move until there is no electric field tangent to the surface of the conductor. This means that the conductor
itself is an equipotential. Since the conducting plane is grounded, the entire plane will be at zero potential.
The crucial information about the field to the +x side of the xy-plane is:
1. There is a single charge Q at x1 = dî.
2. The xy-plane is at zero potential.
This information uniquely determines the field. The statement of the problem gives one way to enforce those
conditions – an infinite conducting plane. However, it is easy to see that there is a second way. If we place
a charge −Q at a position x2 = −dî, the combined potential of the two charges is
 
Q  1 1
V = − 
4π0 x − dî x + dî
 
Q  1 1
= q −q 
4π0 2 2
(x − d) + y 2 + z 2 (x + d) + y 2 + z 2

Setting the x-coordinate to zero, x = 0, shows that V (0, y, z) = 0 for all y and z, that is, the entire yz-plane.
Since this is condition 2 above, and there is only a single charge Q in the region of interest, the electric
potential must be the same as for the infinite plane. Therefore, the solution for the plane is
 
Q  1 1
V = q −q  x>0
4π0 2 2 2 2 2 2
(x − d) + y + z (x + d) + y + z

1
We do not care about the potential for negative x where the two solutions differ.

1.2 Charged plane

Now consider the same problem, but with a charge density σ on the conducting plane. It may seem like the
additional charge will change the solution dramatically, but the answer follows easily by superposition. We
have the solution for both a uniformly charged plane,

σ |x|
VCP =
0
and for a plane at potential 0 in the presence of the charge Q. The full potential is just the sum of these,
 
Q  1 1  + σx
VT otal = q −q x>0
4π0 2 2 0
(x − d) + y 2 + z 2 (x + d) + y 2 + z 2

2 Exterior potential for a grounded sphere in the presence of a

point charge
Consider a grounded sphere (potential V (R) = 0) of radius R centered on the origin, and a charge q brought
to within a distance a > R. We find the potential using the method of images.
Let the z-axis pass through the charge q. The system then has azimuthal symmetry, so if the problem
can be solved using images, any image charge must also lie on the z-axis. Let there be a charge q 0 at position
b < R. This is allowed since we are interested in the potential outside the sphere. The question is whether
we can choose q 0 and b so that the sphere is an equipotential.
The potential for the charge pair is
 
1  q q0
V = + 
4π0 x − ak̂ x − bk̂

Now,
r   
x − ak̂ = x − ak̂ · x − ak̂
p
= r2 + a2 − 2ar cos θ

so that
q0
 
1 q
V = √ +√
4π0 2 2
r + a − 2ar cos θ 2 2
r + b − 2br cos θ
For the sphere to be at zero potential, the term in parentheses must vanish when r = R for all θ. This means
that
p qp
R2 + a2 − 2aR cos θ = − 0 R2 + b2 − 2bR cos θ
q
r
q b R2 2
= − 0 (R + b2 − 2bR cos θ)
q R b2
r
q b R4 R2
= − 0 2
+ R2 − 2R cos θ
q R b b

2
 R2
The two roots will be equal if b = a, so that

R2
b=
a
and the charges must be related by
q b
1 = −
q0 R
b
q0 = −q
R
qR
= −
a
The potential is then zero on the sphere, and the potential anywhere outside the sphere is given by
 
q  1 R
V = − 
4π0 x − ak̂
2
a x − R k̂ a

3 Exercises
3.1 Grounded plane with two charges
Let a grounded, conducting plane occupy the yz-plane, and two charges, q1 and q2 , be brought to positions
x1 = aî + bĵ and x2 = cî − bĵ. Use the method of images and superposition to write the potential on the +x
side of the plane.

3.2 Grounded corner

Two grounded conducting planes make a right angle along the x-axis, so the planes occupy positions
(x, y > 0, z = 0) and (x, y = 0, z > 0). Let a charge Q be placed at x = aĵ + bk̂. Use the method of
images to write the potential in the region (x, y > 0, z > 0).

3.3 Infinite cylinder and wire (more challenging)

An infinite, grounded, conducting cylindrical shell of radius R lies centered on the z-axis and a wire with
uniform charge per unit length λ lies parallel at a distance d > R. Use the method of images to find the
potential everywhere outside the cylinder by considering a second wire with charge per unit length −λ at a
distance a < R from the zaxis. Find ain terms of d, then write the potential outisde the cylinder. Include
an additive constant in the potential to make it zero on the cylinder. A careful diagram in the xy-plane will
help.