Charge is placed on two conducting spheres that are very far apart and connected

Question

Charge is placed on two conducting spheres that are very far apart and connected by a long thin wire. The radius of the smaller sphere is 5 cm and that of the larger sphere is 12 cm. The electric field at the surface of the larger sphere is 810 kV/m. Find the surface charge density on each sphere.

Charge is placed on two conducting spheres that are very far apart and connected by a long thin wire. The radius of the smaller sphere is 5 cm and that of the larger sphere is 12 cm. The electric field at the surface of the larger sphere is 810 kV/m. Find the surface charge density on each sphere. sigma12 = ( ) mu or micro CC/m2 sigma5 =( )mu or micro CC/m2

Explanation / Answer

given both spheres are connected by wire

hence they will have same potential

so if q1,q2 are respective charges then q1/r1 = q2/r2

now for larger sphere electric field = 810kV/m = sigma1/epsilon

so sigma1 = 7.172 uc/m^2(charge density on larger sphere)

sigma1/sigma2 = q1/r1^2 * r2^2/q2 = r2/r1 = 5/12

so sigma2 = 12/5 * sigma1 = 17.213 uC/m^2

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse C
• Subjects

---