Breaking & building a charged hollow sphere

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the physics of a charged hollow sphere with surface charge density σ and radius R, which is divided into two hemispheres. The hemispheres, possessing equal charges, experience repulsion due to their like charges. Participants explore calculating the repulsive force between the hemispheres using Coulomb's law, considering the hemispheres as point charges and analyzing the force exerted by infinitesimal charge elements on each hemisphere.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electrostatics and Coulomb's law
  • Familiarity with charge distribution concepts
  • Knowledge of spherical geometry and integration techniques
  • Basic principles of force and motion in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the application of Coulomb's law in electrostatics
  • Explore charge distribution in spherical objects
  • Learn about the concept of point charges and their interactions
  • Investigate the mathematical techniques for integrating over continuous charge distributions
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in electrostatics and the behavior of charged objects in a theoretical context.

xxhizors
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A charged hollow sphere with surface charge density [itex]\sigma[/itex] & radius R is cut into two hemispheres...certainly the hemispheres with equal charges on them would repel each other...Now a force is applied on both the hemispheres to align them again as the original sphere..i shall be highly thankful if u could assist me finding that force applied on each hemisphere...its not a homework assignment...just a question i saw in a book...!
 
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xxhizors said:
A charged hollow sphere with surface charge density [itex]\sigma[/itex] & radius R is cut into two hemispheres...certainly the hemispheres with equal charges on them would repel each other...Now a force is applied on both the hemispheres to align them again as the original sphere..i shall be highly thankful if u could assist me finding that force applied on each hemisphere...its not a homework assignment...just a question i saw in a book...!

Welcome to the PF.

Interesting problem. If they were point charges, what would be the repulsive force as a function of separation discance? Once the two hemispheres are no longer in contact, what will the (formerly uniform) charge distribution be?
 
How can we consider them as point charges in this problem...??
The repulsive force between the point charges can be calculated from coulomb's law...
I thought this about approaching this problem..

let us take a hemisphere & we try to build another on it and see the force of repulsion due to each infinitely small ring constituting the upper hemisphere on the lower one...
i can consider hemisphere to be build from infinite rings...
 

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