# Capacitance of a sphere

Safder Aree

## Homework Statement

Assume a conducting sphere has a radius of 3400km with an electric field of 100 V/m at it's surface.
a) Calculate total charge of sphere.
b)Calculate potential at the surface using infinity at reference point
c) Calculate capacitance of the sphere using the result of a or b but not both.

I know how to do all the problems but how do I go about doing part C while using only one of the results?

-Gauss's Law
-Potential
-Capacitance

## The Attempt at a Solution

a)
$$\oint E.dA = \frac{q}{\epsilon_0}$$
$$q = E(4\pi*R^2)\epsilon_0$$
$$q=100*4\pi*(3.6*10^5)$$
$$1.63*10^{14} Coulombs$$

b)
$$V(r) = -\int E.dl$$
$$= -\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \int_\infty^R \frac{1}{r^2}dr$$
$$=\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0 R}$$
$$=\frac{1.63*10^{14}}{4\pi\epsilon_0(3.6*10^5)}$$
$$4.07*10^{28} J$$

c) $$C = \frac{Q}{\Delta V}$$.
I have no idea how to appraoch it using only variable. I know the answer must be Q/V from a and b.
Thank you for any guidance.

Last edited:

Homework Helper
Gold Member
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You will see it immediately if you stop thinking in terms of numbers and start thinking in terms of symbols. You have ##V = \frac{q}{4 \pi \epsilon_0r}## and ##V = \frac{q}{C}##. Put it together. Capacitance is a geometric quantity and depends neither on ##q## nor on ##V##.

Safder Aree
Homework Helper

## The Attempt at a Solution

a)
$$\oint E.dA = \frac{q}{\epsilon_0}$$
$$q = E(4\pi*R^2)$$
You forgot ε0

Safder Aree
Safder Aree
You forgot ε0
You're right, it just slipped me while typing it up.

Safder Aree
You will see it immediately if you stop thinking in terms of numbers and start thinking in terms of symbols. You have ##V = \frac{q}{4 \pi \epsilon_0r}## and ##V = \frac{q}{C}##. Put it together. Capacitance is a geometric quantity and depends neither on ##q## nor on ##V##.

I understand now, thank you for the clarification.