# Homework Help: Charge on capacitor connected between spheres

1. Apr 12, 2014

### Saitama

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Two metallic spheres, each of radius R having charges 2Q and Q are joined through a capacitor of capacitance C as shown in the figure. Assuming R<<d, the charge on the capacitor long time after the key K is closed is:

(Ans: $\dfrac{Q}{2+\frac{4\pi \epsilon_0 R}{C}}$)

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
The final distribution of charges should be as shown in attachment 2.
From conservation of energy:
$$\frac{(2Q)^2}{2x}+\frac{Q^2}{2x}=\frac{(2Q-q)^2}{2x}+\frac{q^2}{2C}+\frac{(Q+q)^2}{2x}$$
where $x=4\pi \epsilon_0 R$.

Solving the above doesn't give me the right answer.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

#### Attached Files:

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• ###### capacitor and spheres 2.png
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2. Apr 12, 2014

### TSny

The electrical potential energy is not conserved in this problem. Think about the final electric potential of each sphere and the capacitor.

3. Apr 12, 2014

### Saitama

Why the energy isn't conserved in this case?
Final electric potentials of the left sphere, capacitor and right spheres are $\frac{k(2Q-q)}{R}$, $q/C$ and $\frac{k(Q+q)}{R}$ respectively but I don't see what to do with the potentials.

4. Apr 12, 2014

### TSny

How does the potential difference between the spheres relate to the potential difference across the plates of the capacitor?

5. Apr 12, 2014

### Curious3141

In any problem involving redistribution of charges in a circuit, it's not safe to assume conservation of electrical energy. There is always "hidden" dissipation of energy as heat or EM waves, even when a circuit has no apparent resistance.

You'll notice this when working problems where a fully charged capacitor is then connected across an uncharged capacitor. Charge is conserved but the sum of the final PEs is not the same as what was present before. Energy is apparently "lost".

At equilibrium, what can you say about the potential of the left sphere with respect to the left plate of the capacitor? And then about the potential of the right sphere with respect to the right plate of the capacitor? And about the potential difference across the capacitor plates?

6. Apr 12, 2014

### TSny

There will be conversion of electric potential energy into other forms of energy such as Joule heating and radiation.

7. Apr 12, 2014

### Saitama

I made the circuit shown in attachment for the final configuration.

By KVL, I get:
$$\frac{k(2Q-q)}{R}-\frac{q}{C}-\frac{k(Q+q)}{R}=0$$
Solving the above gives me the right answer but I guess there is a better way to get the above equation?

#### Attached Files:

• ###### capacitor and spheres 3.png
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8. Apr 12, 2014

### Curious3141

What I did is exactly what I wrote. At equilibrium, each plate of the capacitor will have the same potential as the sphere it's connected to (otherwise charge will still move and it will not be a stable equilibrium state). Let the left sphere and left plate (positive as it gains charge) be at voltage $V_L$ and the right plate (negative as it loses charge) and right sphere be at voltage $V_R$.

Then the potential difference across the capacitor is $V_L - V_R$, which you can equate to $\frac{q}{C}$.

Plug in all your variables to replace the voltage terms and you have a simple equation that almost immediately gives you the required answer.

Last edited: Apr 12, 2014
9. Apr 13, 2014

### Saitama

Understood, thanks a lot Curious and TSny!