Modeling Thunderclouds with Point Charges and Conducting Planes

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The discussion focuses on modeling a thundercloud using two point charges and a conducting plane representing the Earth's surface. The user describes their approach to satisfy boundary conditions by placing image charges and deriving the electric potential and field equations. They confirm that the electric field below the cloud points in the positive z-direction and discuss the safest location to be during a thunderstorm, which is where the electric field vanishes on the surface. The user expresses uncertainty about the required sketch of electric field lines and acknowledges a mistake in depicting the field below the conducting plane. Overall, the thread emphasizes the mathematical modeling of electric fields in relation to thunderclouds and safety considerations.
CAF123
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Homework Statement


A thunder cloud can be loosely modeled by two point charges -q and q at heights h and d above the Earth's surface with d > h. Model the Earth's surface as a conducting plane at z=0.
Sketch the Electric field lines (on a plane perpendicular to the earth). Indicate the field below the cloud, at a radial distance r, and far away from the cloud. Considering ##\underline{E}##, where is the safest place to be?

The Attempt at a Solution


To satisfy the boundary conditions (V=0 on surface of earth), two image charges are placed at a distance -h (a +q charge) and -d(a -q charge) from the plane. I have the potential due to all 4 charges as a function of x,y and z, from which I found the electric field as a function of the same variables.

From looking at the sketch, it appears to me that the E field should point in the +ve z direction below the cloud and this is confirmed by my eqn for E.
My expression for V is $$V=\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_o}\left(\frac{1}{(x^2+y^2+(z-d)^2)^{1/2}} - \frac{1}{(x^2+y^2+(z-h)^2)^{1/2}} - \frac{1}{(x^2+y^2+(z+d)^2)^{1/2}} + \frac{1}{(x^2+y^2+(z+h)^2)^{1/2}}\right)$$ and I found E by doing -gradV. (the expression is messier than the potential so I won't post it).. I can draw the general sketch of the field lines emanating form the dipole, but I am not sure if that is what the question requires. Perhaps it wants me to draw the general sketch and then confirm it with my eqn for E at particular points.
The safest place would be the place where E vanishes on the surface, but I am not sure how to express this in words or mathematically. I set ##E_z(x,y)=0## and I obtained a condition on ##r^2 = x^2 + y^2##.

I attached a sketch of my drawing
Many thanks.
 

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Anybody any comments? I should have not drawn the E field below the plane, because the charges there are only there to help establish the boundary conditions.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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