Calculating Self Capacitance of an Isolated Sphere

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the self-capacitance of an isolated sphere, specifically in a setup involving multiple spheres at finite distances from one another. Participants explore the implications of self-capacitance in relation to the defined potentials and charge distributions among the spheres.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the definition of self-capacitance and question its applicability given the presence of multiple spheres. There are attempts to analyze the electric fields and potentials between the spheres, with some suggesting treating the setup as two parallel capacitors. Others express confusion about the implications of induced charges and the conditions for calculating potentials.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with various perspectives being explored regarding the setup's validity and the calculations involved. Some participants have provided guidance on using Gauss's Law and integrating electric fields to find potential differences, while others are seeking clarification on specific calculations and assumptions.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem involves finite distances between the spheres, which complicates the application of self-capacitance concepts typically defined with respect to an infinite-radius sphere. There are ongoing discussions about the correctness of charge distributions and potential calculations.

  • #31
Pranav-Arora said:
I posted it above in one of my post. :-)

You mean you wrote up Cself in terms of R1, R2, R3 long ago, you just let me work in vain? Good by, Pranav...
 
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  • #32
ehild said:
You mean you wrote up Cself in terms of R1, R2, R3 long ago, you just let me work in vain? Good by, Pranav...

Did I say something wrong? :frown:

V(R_2)=kq_1 \left(\frac{1}{R_1}-\frac{1}{R_2}\right)
##R_1=10 cm, R_2=30 cm, R_3=40 cm##
Using the expression posted above for ##q_1##
q_1=Q\frac{R_1(R_3-R_2)}{R_2(R_3-R_1)}
q_1=Q\frac{10 \times 10}{30 \times 30}
q_1=\frac{Q}{9}

Using this in ##V(R_2)##
V=k \frac{Q}{9} \cdot \frac{R_2-R_1}{R_1 R_2}
V=9 \times 10^9 \times \frac{Q}{9} \times \frac{20 \times 100}{10 \times 30}
Solving.
V(R_2)=\frac{20 \times 10^9 Q}{3}

C_{self}=\frac{Q}{V(R_2)}
C_{self}=\frac{3Q}{20 \times 10^9 Q}
Solving this, I get ##1.5 \times 10^{-10}##
Is this correct?
 
  • #33
yes.

It is equal the the parallel resultant of two spherical shell capacitors.

ehild
 
  • #34
ehild said:
yes.
It is equal the the parallel resultant of two spherical shell capacitors.

Thanks a lot ehild! :smile:

But why the self capacitance is equal to the parallel combination here? :confused:
 
  • #35
I can not read the mind of your teacher, why he/she called the thing "self" capacitance. Anyway, you had something carrying charge and having some potential with respect to the ground, which was proportional to the charge. So it had capacitance C=Q/V.
ehild
 
  • #36
ehild said:
I can not read the mind of your teacher, why he/she called the thing "self" capacitance. Anyway, you had something carrying charge and having some potential with respect to the ground, which was proportional to the charge. So it had capacitance C=Q/V.

This question was not by my teacher. :P

Thanks once again! :)
 

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