ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE METHOD FOR DIPOLE-MOMENT OF A CHAIN OF 2 UNEQUAL CONDUCTING SPHERES

When a chain of two unequal conducting spheres is immersed in a unifor m electric field, the distribution of the induced charge on the sphere s is influenced strongly by the electrostatic interaction between the spheres. This influence relies on their radii and the orientation of t he applied held. Here, we employ the electrostatic image method to cal culate the induced charge and the dipole moment of the chain, and requ ire that the net charge of the chain be zero. It is shown that the mom ent of a smaller sphere adhering on a larger one can be ignored for so me held orientations, while for others it becomes large. In certain ca ses, the larger sphere behaves like an isolated body.