Point charge at a boundary between dielectrics

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SUMMARY

A point charge Q located at the boundary between two infinite, homogeneous dielectrics with dielectric constants ε1 and ε2 influences the electric potential, electric field, and displacement vector in the surrounding space. The proposed solution for the electric potential is Φ = 2/(\epsilon_1 + \epsilon_2) Q/r. The analysis confirms that the displacement vector D is continuous normal to the boundary, while the electric field E is continuous parallel to the boundary. The solution involves dividing the space into two regions and applying Gauss' law to derive the correct expressions for each region.

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quenderin
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Homework Statement



A point charge Q is at the boundary plane of two infi nite, homogeneous dielectrics
with dielectric constants \epsilon_1 and \epsilon_2. Calculate the electric potential, the electric field and the displacement vector at any point in space.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



Okay. I don't have a real clue of where to begin analytically, but I can guess a solution, namely Phi = 2/(\epsilon_1 + \epsilon_2) Q/r. If I work this out, then D normal to the plane is continuous, and so is E parallel to the plane, and applying Gauss' law on the charge gives the right answer. Does this make sense?
 
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this is simple.
the field at a point depends on the dielectric constant at that point only.
so divide the space into two regions & work on each of them individually.
 

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