Capacitance of two conducting spheres

In summary, the problem is finding the capacitance of a system with two spheres, one of which has a charge and the other does not have a charge.
  • #1
AxiomOfChoice
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1

Homework Statement


We're supposed to find the capacitance of a system of two conducting spheres, one of radius [itex]r_1[/itex] and charge [itex]Q[/itex], the other of radius [itex]r_2[/itex] and charge [itex]-Q[/itex], separated by a distance [itex]L[/itex] (this is the distance between their centers) that's very large compared to either [itex]r_1[/itex] or [itex]r_2[/itex].

Homework Equations


We define the capacitance by [itex]C = Q/V[/itex], where [itex]V[/itex] is the potential difference between the spheres.

The Attempt at a Solution


Really, my only question, as of right now, is what approximations or assumptions we can make based on the [itex]L >> r_1,r_2[/itex] assumption. Is it just that the charge distribution on eiter sphere is unaffected by the presence of the other sphere? Such that we can assume the potential is just the superposition
[tex]\dfrac{Q}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 R_1} - \dfrac{Q}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 R_2},[/tex]
where [itex]R_1[/itex] is the distance from the center of the first sphere and [itex]R_2[/itex] is the distance from the center of the other sphere?
 
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  • #2
Here's a new attempt at a solution:

(1) The potential due to a sphere is [itex]kQ/r[/itex], where [itex]r[/itex] is the distance from the center of the sphere.

(2) If we consider the two spheres mentioned above, set the origin at the center of the left-most, and let the x-axis join the centers of the spheres, then the potential at any point along this axis is given by the linear superposition of the potentials of sphere 1 and sphere 2:
[tex]
V = V_1 + V_2 = \frac{kQ}{x} - \frac{kQ}{L-x}.
[/tex]

(3) This means the potential difference between the spheres is given by [itex]\Delta V = V(r_1) - V(r_2)[/itex], which is just
[tex]
\frac{kQ}{r_1} - \frac{kQ}{L-r_1} + \frac{kQ}{r_2} - \frac{kQ}{L-r_2}.
[/tex]

I guess we can reduce this, and put [itex]Q/\Delta V[/itex] to get the capacitance.
 
  • #3
...anyone? Does it look like I'm heading in the right direction here?
 

What is capacitance?

Capacitance is a measure of an object's ability to store electric charge. It is defined as the ratio of the electric charge stored on an object to the potential difference across the object.

What are conducting spheres?

Conducting spheres are objects made of a material that allows electric charges to flow freely. They are typically made of metals such as copper or aluminum.

How do you calculate the capacitance of two conducting spheres?

The capacitance of two conducting spheres can be calculated using the following formula: C = 4πε₀r, where C is the capacitance, ε₀ is the permittivity of free space, and r is the distance between the two spheres.

What factors affect the capacitance of two conducting spheres?

The capacitance of two conducting spheres is affected by the distance between the spheres, the size of the spheres, and the material they are made of. It is also affected by the presence of any other objects or electric fields in the surrounding space.

Why is the capacitance of two conducting spheres important?

The capacitance of two conducting spheres is important because it allows us to understand and control the flow of electric charge between the spheres. It is also a key concept in understanding the behavior of capacitors, which are widely used in electronic circuits.

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