The electrostatics of conductors

Abstract

This chapter begins by proving some important properties of (i) conductors in electrostatic equilibrium, and (ii) harmonic functions. These results underpin most of the remaining questions of Chapter 3. The coefficients of capacitance for an arbitrary arrangement of conductors are introduced at an early stage, and numerical calculations then follow in a number of subsequent questions. Some important techniques (both analytical and numerical) for finding solutions to Laplace’s equation are considered. These include: the Fourier method, the relaxation method, themethod of images and the method of conformal transformation. All of these are discussed in some detail, and with appropriate examples.