3.

5 Method of Images

Method of images replaces the original boundary by appropriate image charges in

lieu of a formal solution of Poissonʼs or Laplaceʼs equation so that the original problem
is greatly simplified.

The basic principle of the method of images is the uniqueness theorem. As long as (1)
the solution satisfies Poissonʼs or Laplaceʼs equation and (2) the solution satisfies the
given boundary condition, the simplest solution should be taken.
Point charge over grounded plane conductor By method of images
By direct solution

Q 1 #s
V ( x, y , z ) = + !S R1 ds
4$% 0 x 2 + ( y " d ) 2 + z 2 4$% 0 Q 1 1
V ( x, y , z ) = ( ! )
where R1 is the distance from ds to the point under 4"# 0 R+ R!
consideration and S is the surface of the entire
conducting plane. Only valid in the region of y > 0.

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.5 Method of Images

Example A positive point charge Q is located at distances d1 and d2, respectively,

from two grounded perpendicular conducting half-planes, as shown in the figure.
Determine the force on Q caused by the charges induced on the planes.

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.5 Method of Images

Line Charge And Parallel Conducting Cylinder

Letʼs take a trial solution (an intelligent guess) that !i = " ! l

#l
We have found that the E field generated by a line charge is E = ar (V / m )
2!" 0 r
!
The electric potential at a distance r from a line charge of density l can be obtained by
integrating the electric field intensity E
r r
# 1 # r
V = $ % Er dr = $ l % dr = l ln 0
r0
2!" 0 r0 r 2!" 0 r

Note that the reference point for zero potential, r0, cannot be at infinity. Let us leave r0
unspecified for the time being.

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.5 Method of Images

The potential at a point on or outside the cylindrical

surface is obtained by adding the contributions of ! l
and !i . In particular, at a point M on the cylindrical
surface, we have
#l r # r # r
VM = ln 0 $ l ln 0 = l ln i
2!" 0 r 2!" 0 ri 2!" 0 r
We have simplified the solution by considering the r0 is so large that the distance of the
reference point to ! l and !i is negligible.
ri
Equipotential surfaces are specified by = Constant
r
Therefore, triangles OMPi and OPM similar. We have Pi M = OPi = OM
r d a PM OM OP
or i
= i = = Constant
r a d
2
From the above equation we see that if d i = a / d the image line charge " ! l, together
with ! l , will make the dashed cylindrical surface in the figure equipotential. As the point M
changes its location on the dashed circle, both ri and r will change; but their ratio remains
a constant that equals a/d.

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.5 Method of Images

Two Parallel Conducting Cylinders of The Same Radius

#l r
Since VM = ln i
2!" 0 r
and ri d i a
= =
r a d
#l a #l a
We have V2 = ln and V1 = $ ln
2!" 0 d 2!" 0 d
#l !" 0
The capacitance per unit length is C= =
V1 $ V2 ln(d / a )
a2
where d = D ! di = D ! from which we obtain d = 1 / 2( D + D 2 ! 4 a 2 )
d
"# 0 "# 0
Consequently, C= = !1
( F / m)
ln[( D / 2a ) + ( D / 2a ) 2 ! 1] cosh ( D / 2a )

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.5 Method of Images

Two Parallel Conducting Cylinders of The Same Radius (cont.)

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables

We now develop a method for solving 3-D problems where the boundaries, over which
the potential or its normal derivative is specified, coincide with the coordinate surfaces
of an orthogonal, curvilinear coordinate system. In such cases, the solution can be
expressed as a product of three one-dimensional functions, each depending
separately on one coordinate variable only, The procedure is called the method of
separation of variables.

Classifications of boundary-value problems:

Dirichlet problems,
in which the value of the potential is specified everywhere on the boundaries;

Neumann problems,
in which the normal derivative of the potential is specified everywhere on the
boundaries;

Mixed boundary-value problems,

in which the potential is specified over some boundaries and the normal
derivative of the potential is specified over the remaining ones.

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables

Letʼs investigate Laplaceʼs equation for scalar electric potential V in Cartesian

coordinates system first: 2 2 2
!V !V !V
2
+ 2 + 2 =0
!x !y !z
To apply the method of separation of variables, we assume V ( x, y , z ) = X ( x )Y ( y ) Z ( z )
Therefore, d 2 X ( x) d 2Y ( y ) d 2Z ( z)
Y ( y)Z ( z) + X ( x)Z ( z) + X ( x )Y ( y ) =0
dx 2 dy 2 dz 2
That is 1 d 2 X ( x) 1 d 2Y ( y ) 1 d 2Z ( z)
2
+ 2
+ 2
=0
X ( x ) dx Y ( y ) dy Z ( z ) dz
I order for the above equation to be satisfied for all values of x,y,z, we must have:

1 d 2 X ( x) 2 1 d 2Y ( y ) 2 1 d 2Z ( z) 2
2
= ! k x , 2
= ! k y , = ! k z
X ( x ) dx Y ( y ) dy Z ( z ) dz 2
Consequently,

d 2 X ( x) 2 d 2Y ( y ) 2 d 2Z ( z) 2
2
+ k x X ( x ) = 0, 2
+ k y Y ( y ) = 0, 2
+ k z Z ( z) = 0
dx dy dz
and k x2 + k y2 + k z2 = 0,
Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables

Constant k and the function forms are determined

by the given boundary conditions. For example, if
the potential V approaches to 0 when x approaches
to infinite, the possible solution form is De ! kx with
a positive real k.

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables

EXAMPLE Two grounded,semi-infinite,parallel-plane electrodes are separated by a

distance b.A third electrode perpendicular to and insulated from both is maintained at a
constant potential V0. Determine the potential distribution in the region enclosed by the
electrodes.

Solution:
With V independent of z, we have
V ( x, y, z ) = V ( x, y ), Z ( z ) = B0
In the x-direction: V (0, y ) = V0 , V (!, y ) = 0

In the y-direction: V ( x,0) = 0, V ( x, b) = 0

Since V (!, y ) = 0 , we choose X ( x) = D2 e ! kx, where k is a positive real number and

k y2 = "k x2 = k 2 ! k x = jk , k y = k
The boundary conditions in y-direction suggest that Y ( y ) = A1 sin( ky )
An appropriate solution of the Laplaceʼs equation satisfying partial boundary conditions
(namely, harmonic functions) is ! kx
Vn ( x, y ) = B0 D2 A1 e sin( ky )
123
Cn

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables

Vn ( x, y ) = B0 D2 A1 e ! kx sin( ky )
123
Cn

The constant k is determined by the BC at

y=b, that is

Vn ( x, b) = Cn e ! kx sin( kb) = 0 sin( kb) = 0 k = n! / b, n = 1,2,3,...

n!
Therefore, the harmonic function becomes Vn ( x, y ) = Cn e " n!x / b sin( y)
b
In order to satisfy the BC at x=0, we use the principle of linear superposition of Vn to find
the specific solution of the given BC:
" "
# n$x / b n$ "
n#
V ( x, y ) = ! Vn ( x, y ) =! Cn e sin( y) Vn (0, y ) = ! Cn sin( y ) = V0 , 0< y<b
n =1 n =1 b n =1 b
m!
In order to evaluate the coefficients Cn , we multiply both sides of the equation by sin( y)
And integrate the products from y=0 to y=b:
b
b
# b n$ m$ m$
" ! C n sin( y ) sin( y ) dy = V0! sin( y )dy
n =1
0 b b 0
b

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables
b
# b n$ m$ m$
" ! C n sin( y ) sin( y ) dy = V0! sin( y )dy
n =1
0 b b 0
b

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables

Method of separation of variables in Cylindrical coordinates

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13
 3.6 Method of Separation of Variables

Basic Electromagnetics, Dept. of Elec. Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof. K.-L. Wu / Prof. Th. Blu Lesson 11–13