Abstract
The method of images in electrostatics seems to lead to a paradox: The charges induced on the surface of a grounded conductor by an external point charge do not spread out although the electrostatic field is normal to the surface. This effect can be understood if one takes into account the spreading of the charges inside the conductor due to the kinetic energy (either thermal or quantum mechanical) of the electrons. Corrections to the usual electrostatics of images are then calculated (in particular, it is shown that the conductor surface is not an exact equipotential) when the distance of the point charge to the surface is much larger than the screening length. Applications are discussed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
