A two conducting balls electrostatics problem

In summary, an electrostatics problem involving two conducting balls is a scenario where two charged spheres are in close proximity and the goal is to determine the charge distribution and resulting electric field. To solve this problem, Coulomb's law and electrostatic principles are used. Real-life applications include designing capacitors and studying plasma behavior. The conductivity of the balls affects the charge distribution and the distance between the balls affects the strength of the electric field.
  • #1
uniteast
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Suppose there are two conducting balls of the same radius and the balls are separated by some distance. If both balls are at the same nonzero potential and the potential at infinity is zero, does a closed form formula for the potential exist? Since I can't find the problem solved anywhere I suppose the answer is no. Is that right?
 
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  • #2
Oh, I found an exercise similar to this in Jackson's electrodynamics book. It's a series solution with an infinite number of image charges, so I suppose that's the best that can be done.
 

1. What is an electrostatics problem involving two conducting balls?

An electrostatics problem involving two conducting balls is a scenario where two charged spheres are in close proximity to each other and the goal is to determine the distribution of charge on each sphere and the resulting electric field between them.

2. How do you solve a two conducting balls electrostatics problem?

To solve a two conducting balls electrostatics problem, you must first define the given parameters such as the charge on each sphere and the distance between them. Then, you can use Coulomb's law and principles of electrostatics to calculate the electric field and distribution of charge on the spheres.

3. What are some real-life applications of a two conducting balls electrostatics problem?

A two conducting balls electrostatics problem has practical applications in the design of capacitors, which are used in electronic circuits to store and manipulate electrical energy. It also plays a role in understanding the behavior of charged particles in a plasma, which has applications in fusion energy research.

4. What is the significance of the conductivity of the two balls in this problem?

The conductivity of the two balls is important because it determines how easily charge can flow between them. In a conducting material, charges can move freely, while in an insulating material they are fixed in place. This affects the distribution of charge on the spheres and the resulting electric field.

5. How does the distance between the two balls affect the electric field in this problem?

The electric field between the two balls is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that as the distance increases, the electric field decreases. This relationship is important in understanding the behavior of electric fields and the strength of the force between charged particles.

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