# Charged shpere inside grounded shell

1. Sep 4, 2010

### Terocamo

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
There is a Charged metal sphere with radius b placed inside the central of a ground metallic shell with a radius a. What will be the work done in bring a small positive charge q from infinity to the surface of the inner sphere?

2. Relevant equations
$$\emph{V=}\frac{qQ}{4r\pi\epsilon}$$

3. The attempt at a solution
What i think is that if the outer shell is earthed, than i will have 0V potential, and an infinite object also have 0V so there is no work done to bring a charged object q from infinite far to the outer shell, so what left is the potential of the inner sphere which is
$$\emph{V=}\frac{qQ}{4b\pi\epsilon}$$
However, the solution manual mentioned there is induced charge induced on the outher shell and thus, its produce a potential $$\emph{V=}\frac{-qQ}{4a\pi\epsilon}$$.

What bothers me is if the shell is grounded, how can there be any potential?

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• ###### al 90-28.bmp
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Last edited: Sep 4, 2010
2. Sep 4, 2010

### ehild

The potential is zero outside the big sphere and on it, but differs from zero inside.

ehild

3. Sep 4, 2010

### Terocamo

I see, so it is not the outer shell which produce a negative potential but shielding the space outside from being affected by the field produced by the inner sphere is that right?

4. Sep 5, 2010

### ehild

The outer shell is at the same potential as the ground. There is no work done when a charge moves from infinity to the outer shell, but there is work while it moves from the outer shell to the inner sphere.
Find the electric field in the space between the sphere and shell. The charge on the inner sphere induces an equal but opposite surface charge (-q) on the inner surface of the shell. If the shell were not grounded, its outer surface would carry q charge. But it is grounded so this charge has flown off, to the ground.

I don't understand the formula you cited for the potential, as it is not potential but work. It is true that you can choose the zero point of potential anywhere, if it is at the surface of the inner sphere then the outer shell together with the whole world outside are at a constant negative potential.

ehild

Last edited: Sep 5, 2010