2 spheres and a wire

1. Jan 29, 2013

dfetnum

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Two metallic spheres have radii of 19.1 cm and 11.5 cm, respectively. The magnitude of the electric field on the surface of each sphere is 3490 V/m. The two spheres are then connected by a long, thin metal wire.

a) Determine the magnitude of the electric field on the surface of the sphere with radius 19.1 cm when they are connected.
b) Determine the magnitude of the electric field on the surface of the sphere with radius 11.5 cm when they are connected.

2. Relevant equations
E=kq/r^2

3. The attempt at a solution
I found the charge on each of the spheres by solving for q with the given formula. I got q1=1.4E-8 C and q2=5.1E-9C. When the spheres are connected the charge is evenly distributed among the surface area. I calculated the surface areas to be .458m^2 and .116m^2. I then found the percentage of total surface area for the first one and got .733. I used this times the sum of the total charge. I then plugged that charge into the formula. Can't seem to get the right answer.

2. Jan 29, 2013

TSny

Perhaps surprisingly, that turns out not to be true.

When the two conductors are connected by the wire, it is as though you have one funny shaped conductor. What quantity have you studied that must have the same value at every point of a conductor when it's in electrostatic equilibrium?

3. Jan 29, 2013

dfetnum

I don't know, electric field?

4. Jan 29, 2013

TSny

No, it's not electric field. It's "electric ______" (fill in the blank)

5. Jan 29, 2013

dfetnum

potential?

6. Jan 29, 2013

TSny

Right. If an electron is free to move (as in a conductor) it will move from a point of lower potential to a point of higher potential. Since there is no movement of electrons in a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium, all points of the conductor must be at the same potential.

7. Jan 30, 2013

dfetnum

So if I find the electric potential of both spheres before they connect, then use the proportional area, I can find the amount of potential area of one of the spheres and then multiply by the radius to find the Electric field?

8. Jan 30, 2013

TSny

Don't worry about the areas of the spheres. You know the total charge. After the wire is connected, how much of that total charge should be on each sphere so that they have the same potential?

9. Jan 30, 2013

dfetnum

I'm sorry, this is really confusing. I am just going in circles now with the numbers of the charges. Im using q1/r1=(qtotal-q1)/r2. Im getting a number larger than q total

10. Jan 30, 2013

rollingstein

Use first part of this eq. and equate V on both spheres.

You get ratio of charges in direct proportion to radii.

Solve for Q1 and Q2