National Polytechnic School

Electric Department
ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS
Name: Wilson Snchez

Course: Gr-1

Due date: Nov 13, 2015

Method of images
The method of images (or method of mirror images) is a mathematical tool for
solving differential equations, in which the domain of the sought function is
extended by the addition of its mirror image with respect to a symmetry
hyperplane. As a result, certain boundary conditions are satisfied
automatically by the presence of a mirror image, greatly facilitating the
solution of the original problem.
Suppose a point charge q is held a distance d above an infinite grounded
conducting plane. What is the potential in the region above the plane?

In the

z> 0 region, we plan to solve the Poissons equation with a single point

charge at (0, 0, d).

The boundary condition is:
1. V=0 when z=0
2. V 0 when

x2 + y 2 + z 2

Guessed solution: we firstly obtain the electric potential of two charges, one
has charge at and the other has + q (0,0,d) q at (0,0,d) .
The guessed potential is:

We find that the potential is V = 0 when z = 0 or

x2 + y 2 + z 2

With the help of uniqueness theorem, we are sure that we got the right
answer.
References:
[1] Open course ware. The Method of Images. [Online]. Available in:
http://ocw.nctu.edu.tw/upload/classbfs120903470749199.pdf