Aesteus
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Homework Statement
Using integration by volume calculate the potential energy of a uniformly-charged sphere with total charge Q. I assume the sphere is solid with uniform charge density.
Homework Equations
U=(1/8pi)*∫(E^2)dV
The Attempt at a Solution
My problem is that when I attempt to integrate from 0 to r, the 1/r^2 term of E blows up at 0 and I'm left with infinite potential energy. Is there another equation I can integrate? Which integral should I be taking to evaluate this problem, or what limits should I be using?
I'm trying to build up the total E-field layer-by-layer, by adding the E-fields of multiple overlapping spheres, but I still can't get the integral.
Edit: Nevermind I've got it. U=(3/5)*(Q^2/r)
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