- #1
MrBlank
- 13
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Let point charge q be at y=r. Let there be an infinite conducting plane along the x-axis and z-axis that is neutrally charged. In this case, the method of mirror charges can be used. The plane is replaced by a point charge -q at y=-r. The electric field for y > 0 is the same in both cases. This is a well known case.
Let point charge q be at y=r. Let there be an infinitely long conducting wire along the x-axis that is neutrally charged. In this case, the method of image charges can not be used. What is the force on q due to the separation of charge that it causes in the wire?
It occurs to me that treating the wire as an infinely long cylinder would help, but I’m not sure how to do the calculations.
Let point charge q be at y=r. Let there be an infinitely long conducting wire along the x-axis that is neutrally charged. In this case, the method of image charges can not be used. What is the force on q due to the separation of charge that it causes in the wire?
It occurs to me that treating the wire as an infinely long cylinder would help, but I’m not sure how to do the calculations.