Physics problem with electrodynamics

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kliker
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hello dear friends, i have another problem in physics, it has to do with electrodynamics.

if we have a sphere with total loading Q which is uniformly distributed throughout it's volume, how can we find the voltage for R/2<=r<=R and for r>=R? (assume that we know E).

i know that Va - Vb = integral(ra/rb) of Edl

but I can't understand how to use it here
 
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lanedance said:
this is a good candidate for Gauss's law

it would be a good candidate (i guess) if we didnt know the value of E, but as i said we know E for (1) R/2<=r<=R and (2)r>=R

(1) E = k*Q*r/R^3
(2) E = k*Q/r^2
 
for r>=R/2

if we say V(inf) = 0

then for r > R/2

we will have

V(r) - V(inf) = Integral[r,inf] * Edl = (1/4p*eo)*Q/r

for r = R

we have V(R) = (1/4p*eo)*Q/R

so for r>=R/2

it will be V(r) = (1/4pe) * Q* (1/r - 1/R) ?

:S
 
you method looks reasonable, though I'm not so sure about the 2nd integration part...
kliker said:
for r>=R/2

if we say V(inf) = 0

then for r > R/2

we will have

V(r) - V(inf) = Integral[r,inf] * Edl = (1/4p*eo)*Q/r
so following what you have done, you mean for r>R and E = k*Q/r^2
[tex]V(r) = V(r) - V(\infty) = - \int_{\infty}^r \vec{E} \bullet \vec{dr} = - \int_{\infty}^r dr \frac{kQ}{r^2} = \frac{kQ}{r} [/tex]

note as the field is only dependent on r, we can differentiate reasonably easy & it gives the correct field, and the potential goes to zero as required, so we're looking good
[tex]\vec{E} = -\nabla V(r)= -\frac{dV(r)}{dr}\vec{\hat{r}} = \frac{kQ}{r}\vec{\hat{r}}[/tex]

and fidning the correct offset potential for the edge of the sphere is
[tex]V(R)= \frac{kQ}{R}[/tex]

kliker said:
for r = R

we have V(R) = (1/4p*eo)*Q/R

so for r>=R/2

it will be V(r) = (1/4pe) * Q* (1/r - 1/R) ?

:S

then for r<R, inside the sphere, integerate similar to before & carry the constant for V(R) so the potential is at the correct offset
[tex]V(r)-V(R) = - \int_{R}^r \vec{E} \bullet \vec{dr} [/tex]

now if you differentiate the potential you have found, you don't get the correct field, so i would look have a look at the integral again
[tex]\vec{E} = -\nabla V(r)= -\frac{d}{dr}( \frac{kQ}{r}-\frac{kQ}{R})\vec{\hat{r}}= \frac{kQ}{r^2}\vec{\hat{r}}[/tex] ?