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In the figure below, a solid sphere, of radius a = 1.90 cm is concentric with a

ID: 2003119 • Letter: I

Question

In the figure below, a solid sphere, of radius a = 1.90 cm is concentric with a spherical conducting shell of inner radius b = 2.00a and outer radius c = 2.40a. The sphere has a net chargeq1 = +6.00 fC which is distributed uniformly through the sphere; the shell has a net charge of q2 = -q1.

(a) What is the magnitude of the electric field at radial distance r = 0?
= _____ N/C

(b) What is the magnitude of the electric field at radial distance r = a/3?
= _____ N/C

(c) What is the magnitude of the electric field at radial distance r = a?
= _____ N/C

(d) What is the magnitude of the electric field at radial distance r = 1.30a?
= _____ N/C

(e) What is the magnitude of the electric field at radial distance r = 2.10a?
= _____ N/C

(f) What is the magnitude of the electric field at radial distance r = 3.90a?
= _____ N/C

(g) What is the net charge on the inner surface of the shell?
= _____ fC

(h) What is the net charge on the outer surface of the shell?
= _____ fC

Explanation / Answer

Radius of the sold sphere a =1.9 cm

Inner radius of spherical conducting shell b=2a

Outer radius of spherical conducting shell c=2.4a

The net charge of sphere q1 =+6 fC =6*10^-15 C

The net charge of conducting shell q2 =-q1

Applying Gauss' law,

E.ds =q/_0 .......... (1)

E.ds =(4r^2)E    ......... (2)   (since ds =4r^2)  

compare equation (1) and (2),we get

(4r^2)E = q/_0

therefore, electric field E =(1/4_0)(q/r^2)    ......... (3)

a)

At r =0 cm and a =1.9 cm

At r=0 the charge q =0

Therefore electric field E =0

b)

Given r =a/3   ........ (4)

It means r<3

If r<a then electric field E =(1/4_0)(q'/r^2) ....... (5)

where, charge q' =q(r/a)^3 ...... (6)

eq (5), becomes

E =(1/4_0)(qr^3/a^3r^2)

E =(1/4_0)(qr/a^3) .......... (7)

eq (7), becomes

E =(1/4_0)(q/3a^2) ........ (8)

where, 1/4_0 =8.99*10^9 N.m^2/C^2

substitute the given data in eq (8), we get

E =4.962*10-2 N/C

c)

Given r= a =1.9 cm =1.9*10^-2 m

Electric field E =kq/a^2 ......... (9)

E =14.93*10^-2 N/C

d)

Given r =1.3 a =1.3*1.9 =2.47*10^-2 m

Electric field E = E =kq/r^2    at a<r<b

E =8.85*10^-2 N/C

e)

Given r =2.10a =3.99*10^-2 m  

If b<r<c, then the electric field E =0

Since chrge q does not lie inside the shell (q =0).

f)

Given r =3.4a =6.46*10^-2 m

The charge q1 =+6 fC lies inside the shell and q2 =-6 fC lies on the out side

So the charge enclosed by the Gaussian surface is zero.

Therefore electric field E =0.

g)

The net charge on the inner surface is q2+q1 =0

q2=-q1 =-6 fC

The net charge on the outer surface is

q_0 =-q2-q1

q_0 =q1-q1    (since q2 =-q1)

q_0 =0 fC