Calculating Electric Potential at Sphere and Shell

  • Thread starter Thread starter jromega3
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Sphere
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 replies · 2K views
jromega3
Messages
25
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A conducting sphere with radius a = 0.31 m has a net charge Qa = +4 µC. A thin, non-conducting spherical shell of radius b = 0.86 m surrounds the sphere and is concentric with it. This shell has a net charge Qb = +1.5 µC distributed uniformly over its surface. The electric potential at infinity is zero.

(a) Calculate the electric potential at a radial distance of 0.4 m outside of the thin shell.
(b) Calculate the potential at the thin shell.
(c) Find the electric potential mid-way between the surface of the sphere and the surrounding shell.
(d) Find the potential at the surface of the sphere.
(e) Find the potential at the center of the sphere.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



These are driving me crazy. My work gives me the following answers...
a) 9*10^9 (4*10^-6+1.5*10^-6/1.57)
b) 9*10^9(4*10^-6+1.5*10^-6/0.215)
c) 9*10^9(4*10^-6/0.585+1.5*10^-6/0.86)
d) 9*10^9(4*10^-6/0.31+1.5*10^-6/0.86)
e) 9*10^9(4*10^-6/0.31+1.5*10^-6)

which aren't right when I'm typing them in.
 
on Phys.org