Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2016 / ib / Paper 1 / 16D (Electromagnetism)

In electrostatics, the relevant Maxwell equations reduce to $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{E}=\rho /{\epsilon }_0$ and $\nabla \times \mathbf{E}=0$. For a volume $V$ with outward unit normal $\mathbf{n}$, integrate the first equation and apply the divergence theorem:This is the integral form of Gauss's law, with $Q_V$ the enclosed electric charge. The zero curl is the accompanying condition allowing an electrostatic potential locally, and globally when the domain permits one.

By cylindrical symmetry the electric field of an infinite line charge is radial, independent of $z$ and angle. Use a coaxial cylindrical Gaussian surface of radius $r$ and length $L$. The end caps have zero flux, so Gauss's law gives $2\pi rL{E}_r=\mu L/{\epsilon }_0$. Hence the field and electrostatic potential areHere $r_0>0$ is an arbitrary reference length, and $\mathbf{E}=-\nabla \varphi$. One cannot choose zero electrostatic potential at infinity for a single infinite line charge, because its logarithmic potential diverges there; the arbitrary reference handles the additive constant.

For the conductor in electrostatic equilibrium, the interior electric field is zero and the electrostatic potential is constant. Earthing fixes that constant to zero. Thus the conductor boundary conditions at $x=d$ areThe normal electric field need not vanish; it is supported by a surface charge density. The outward normal from this conductor into the exterior is $\mathbf{n}=-{\mathbf{e}}_x$, so the normal jump condition isThis sign convention will determine the sign of the induced surface charge density below.

The method of images uses the real line charge at the origin and the opposite image charge at $(2d,0)$. LetSuperposing their logarithmic electrostatic potentials gives, in the physical region $x<d$,At $x=d$, $r_1=r_2$, so $\varphi =0$. Its tangential derivatives also vanish on that plane, giving $E_y=E_z=0$, exactly the electrostatic boundary conditions at a conductor. The image lies outside the physical domain, so it creates no extra physical source there. Together with the appropriate behaviour at infinity, uniqueness of Poisson equation identifies this field with the grounded-conductor solution.

The force on the real line charge is due to the induced conductor field, represented by the image charge; its own singular field must be omitted. The opposite image at distance $2d$ produces at the origin a field toward the conductor,Multiplying by the charge per unit length gives the attractive force per unit length:The attraction holds for either sign of $\mu$. The geometry assumes $d>0$, so the real line lies outside the conductor.

Differentiating the image charge potential givesAt the conducting plane, $E_x(d^{-})=\mu d/[\pi {\epsilon }_0(d^2+y^2)]$. With outward conductor normal $-{\mathbf{e}}_x$, the surface charge density is thereforeIt is independent of $z$ by translational symmetry. As a check, integrating across the plane gives ${\int }_{-\infty }^{\infty }\sigma (y,z)dy=-\mu$, the total induced charge per unit length, opposite to the real line charge.