Charge on two concentric spherical shells

[brianeyes88677]

There are two spherical shells in different sizes and they are concentric. Now if I connect a battery to the two spheres (connect the negative pole to the smaller sphere and connect the positive pole to the bigger sphere). Will this system become stable? Or is there any situation for the charges on these spheres stay static?

 

[mfb]

Will this system become stable?

Sure. Do you expect something else?
You are connecting a battery to a capacitor (assuming the shells are conducting).

 

[brianeyes88677]

If it is a capacitor then what's the ratio of the amount of charges on the both sphere? (the radii are r and R)

 

[mfb]

Is this homework? If yes, please post the full problem statement and your work so far.

What do you think?

 

[brianeyes88677]

This is not a homework, it's just a concept that flash through my mind. If it is a capacitor just like you say, the amount of charges on the two spheres should be the same, but I think this isn't reasonable, how can it be stable if the amount of charges are the same?

 

[mfb]

This is not a homework, it's just a concept that flash through my mind. If it is a capacitor just like you say, the amount of charges on the two spheres should be the same

Yes, this is given by charge conservation.

how can it be stable if the amount of charges are the same?

Where is the problem?

 

[lonely_nucleus]

No, the system will not become stable because the smaller sphear has shaper edges, charges are more concentrated on sharper surfaces(smaller spheare).

 

[mfb]

Wait, what is meant by "stable" here? In terms of electric charge distribution, or in terms of forces if we don't have supports? I assumed the former one, where the different charge density is not an issue.