- #1
sandy.bridge
- 798
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Homework Statement
Hey guys. I am looking for confirmation regarding my logic concerning a specific principle. If I have a conducting, charged sphere that has a breakdown field of [itex]E_{breakdown}[/itex], and I want to know what the radius of the sphere has to be set to in order to reduce the breakdown voltage by half, would the following logic be correct:
[itex]V_{breakdown} ∝ 1/r[/itex] and therefore [itex](1/2)V_{breakdown} ∝ 1/(2r)[/itex]. Hence to half the breakdown voltage, the radius is doubled.
[itex]dV=\vec{E}.\vec{dl}[/itex], where for the specific radius [itex]2r[/itex], dl ends up at the radius, hence halving the potential means that the field is also halved. Hence,
[itex]\vec{E}_{breakdown}/(2r)^2=0.5\vec{E}_{breakdown}[/itex], and [itex]r=0.7071[/itex].
Thanks in advance!