Electric Field minimum in a spherical capacitor.

[Kizaru]

Homework Statement

The potential difference \Delta\phi between the plates of a spherical capacitor is kept constant. Show that then the Electric Field at the surface of the inner sphere will be a minimum if a = \frac{1}{2}b

Homework Equations

E = \frac{Q}{4\pi\epsilon_{0}r^{2}}
between the plates.

The Attempt at a Solution

Not really sure. I know that
\Delta\phi = - \int E dl
and that it is constant. But not really sure how to proceed from here. I think I need to find some sort of new equation for E, then find the minima? Answer in the back of the book is E = 4 (delta)(phi) / b

The answer latex didn't work, sorry.

 

[turin]

Your line integral can be taken along a radial line, from a to b.

BTW, I would use \Delta\phi instead of \nabla\phi for the total potential difference. It's just a notational convention, but it is a very common one, and I was a little bit confused at first.

 

[Kizaru]

Your line integral can be taken along a radial line, from a to b.

BTW, I would use \Delta\phi instead of \nabla\phi for the total potential difference. It's just a notational convention, but it is a very common one, and I was a little bit confused at first.

Err, yes I meant delta phi. Taking the line integral doesn't help with the solution. If I did take the line integral, I get the electric potential difference. But this isn't helpful because
\Delta\phi = \frac{Q}{4\pi\epsilon_{0}}\left(\frac{1}{b}-\frac{1}{a}\right)

And then how would I find the minimum of the electric field from there?

I already passed in the problem--probably done incorrectly. I used the mean value theorem to integrate over E from b to a, then divide by (b-a). Then I took the derivative with respect to a, and tried to set equal to 0 but there were no values for which that occurred. I did manage to get rid of one of the two terms when a = (1/2)b.

 

[turin]

Consider Q as a function of a (or b, or their ratio).