Method of images about a sphere with a dipole

[Freddy P]

Homework Statement

Hello everyone, I am new here and have a question regarding method of images in my electricity and magnetism class. I need help to even get the ball rolling. The question is as follows:

a) What is the image of a dipole, oriented toward the center of the conducting sphere, if the sphere
is not grounded?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

This is where my confusion initially lies. When it is said 'what is the image of a dipole,' what exactly does that mean? Am I to draw a picture of the dipole in regards to an non-grounded sphere? If anyone could help, it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[stevendaryl]

Do you know what method of images is? If you have a conducting sphere, and you put a charge outside the sphere, then the charges on the sphere will rearrange themselves so that the combined field is as if there were a "mirror charge" inside the sphere. Take a look at this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_image_charges#Reflection_in_a_conducting_sphere

 

[Freddy P]

Do you know what method of images is? If you have a conducting sphere, and you put a charge outside the sphere, then the charges on the sphere will rearrange themselves so that the combined field is as if there were a "mirror charge" inside the sphere. Take a look at this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_image_charges#Reflection_in_a_conducting_sphere

Ahh ok, so is this part of the problem just asking for an image of a dipole for a non-grounded sphere then? The other parts of the question asked for the potential energy and total charge of the sphere which I calculated. Maybe I'm overthinking the first part but when it says image, it's just asking to draw an image, no? Thanks for your help!

 

[stevendaryl]

Ahh ok, so is this part of the problem just asking for an image of a dipole for a non-grounded sphere then? The other parts of the question asked for the potential energy and total charge of the sphere which I calculated. Maybe I'm overthinking the first part but when it says image, it's just asking to draw an image, no? Thanks for your help!

No, they are asking you to figure out the location and magnitude of the image dipole, and use that to answer the other questions.