Charge distribution on concentric spheres

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the charge distribution between two concentric conducting spherical shells, where the inner shell is earthed and the outer shell is charged to q. It is established that the charge on the inner shell is not zero due to its grounding, which affects the potential at its surface. The potential at the center of the inner shell can be expressed as Kq'/R1 + Kq/R2, leading to the equation Kq'/R1 + Kq/R2 = 0 when the inner shell is grounded.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electrostatics and conductors
  • Familiarity with the concept of electric potential
  • Knowledge of grounding and its effects on charge distribution
  • Basic principles of capacitors and their behavior in circuits
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of electrostatics in detail
  • Learn about electric potential and its calculations in spherical coordinates
  • Explore grounding techniques and their implications in electrical circuits
  • Investigate the behavior of capacitors in parallel configurations
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in understanding electrostatic principles and charge distribution in conductive materials.

Abhimessi10
Messages
43
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Two thin conducting spherical shells have radii R1 and R2.Outer shell is charged to q and inner shell earthed.Find charge appearing on both the shells.

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution


Isnt the charge on inner shell 0 and charge on outer shell remains Q as it doesn't involve any connection?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The inner shell is connected to ground so you cannot make the assumption that the charge on it is zero.
 
Abhimessi10 said:
So how do i approach this problem?
Sorry isn't the inner shell at potential zero as it is connected to the Earth and thus holds 0 charge

If i am wrong please correct me and tell me how to do this?
 
Abhimessi10 said:
Sorry isn't the inner shell at potential zero as it is connected to the Earth and thus holds 0 charge

If i am wrong please correct me and tell me how to do this?
Picture a capacitor and a battery connected in parallel, and the bottom connection for both is Earth grounded. What is the charge on each plate of the capacitor? :smile:
 
berkeman said:
Picture a capacitor and a battery connected in parallel, and the bottom connection for both is Earth grounded. What is the charge on each plate of the capacitor? :smile:

berkeman said:
Picture a capacitor and a battery connected in parallel, and the bottom connection for both is Earth grounded. What is the charge on each plate of the capacitor? :smile:
Still i think its 0 .Sorry i was born dumb.
 
Last edited:
Abhimessi10 said:
Still i think its 0 .Sorry i was born dumb.
Forget the inner shell for the moment. If you have a shell radius r with charge q, what is the potential on its surface? What is the potential at the centre of the shell?
 
haruspex said:
Forget the inner shell for the moment. If you have a shell radius r with charge q, what is the potential on its surface? What is the potential at the centre of the shell?
KQ/R right?
 
Abhimessi10 said:
KQ/R right?
Right.
So now put another shell inside that has no charge. How will that change potential at the centre?
 
haruspex said:
Right.
So now put another shell inside that has no charge. How will that change potential at the centre?
It will not change?
 
  • #10
Abhimessi10 said:
It will not change?
And so cannot become zero.
Do you still think that a grounded sphere placed inside the shell would have no charge?
 
  • #11
Ok
haruspex said:
And so cannot become zero.
Do you still think that a grounded sphere placed inside the shell would have no charge?
But how do i find charges when the inner shell is earthed?
 
  • #12
Abhimessi10 said:
Ok

But how do i find charges when the inner shell is earthed?
Suppose it has charge q'. What is the potential at the centre now?
 
  • #13
haruspex said:
Suppose it has charge q'. What is the potential at the centre now?
KQ'/R1+kQ/R2 ?
 
  • #14
Abhimessi10 said:
KQ'/R1+kQ/R2 ?
Right.
And if the inner shell is grounded what can you say about that potential?
 
  • #15
haruspex said:
Right.
And if the inner shell is grounded what can you say about that potential?
Equating potential of inner shell to 0?
 
  • #16
Abhimessi10 said:
Equating potential of inner shell to 0?
Yes. So what equation do you get?
 
  • #17
haruspex said:
Yes. So what equation do you get?
Kq'/r1+kq/r2=0?
 
  • #18
Abhimessi10 said:
Kq'/r1+kq/r2=0?
Right.
 

Similar threads

Gauss' Law: Conductor, Insulator, Electric Field
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
Charged sphere and charged conducting shell
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
How Does Charging a Conducting Shell Affect Potential Difference?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
How Does a Dielectric Influence Charge Induction on a Conducting Shell?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Spherical conductor shell problem
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
Charge density and charge on a conductor
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
Calculating the surface charge of a sphere and a conducting shell
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
Capacitance of spherical capacitor
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
How Does Charge Distribute Between Two Concentric Shells Connected by a Wire?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Electric field lines outside a neutral conducting spherical shell
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K