Fall time of a charge toward a grounded plane
ID: fall-time-of-a-charge-toward-a-grounded-plane
The image of a charge at height is at height . Their separation is , giving force . Starting at rest at height , energy conservation gives . Integrating the reciprocal speed to the plane yields the stated finite time in the electrostatic Newtonian model. The induced-conductor potential energy is ; using the full image-pair energy would double the force incorrectly.
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