Conceptual Electric field question

AI Thread Summary
Two solid spheres, one a conductor and the other an insulator, both with identical charges, create different electric fields at specified distances. At 6 cm, the electric field from Sphere A (conductor) is greater than that from Sphere B (insulator), leading to the conclusion that Ea > Eb > 0. At 4 cm, the same relationship holds true, as the electric field inside a conductor is uniform and outside behaves as if all charge is concentrated at the center. The discussion emphasizes understanding the nature of electric fields in conductors versus insulators without interaction between the spheres. Confidence in interpreting the question correctly is noted as a concern among participants.
irishbob
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Homework Statement


Two solid spheres, both of radius 5 cm, carry identical total charges of 2 microcoulombs. Sphere A is a good conductor. Sphere B is an insulator, and its charge is distributed uniformly throughout its volume. How do the magnitudes of the electric fields they separately create at a radial distance of 6 cm compare?
A: Ea>Eb=0
B: Ea>Eb>0
C: Ea=Eb>0
D: Ea=Eb=0
E: 0<Ea<Eb
F: 0=Ea<Eb

How do the magnitudes of the electric fields they separately create at radius 4 cm compare? Chose from the same possibilities.

Homework Equations


E=K\frac{q}{r^2}

The Attempt at a Solution


Well I think it's C for both, but for some reason I'm not confident. I just want to make sure I'm understanding the question. So it's only asking about the electric field at a given point 6 (and 4) cm away without them anywhere near each other, meaning their fields are not interacting at all. Is this right?
This isn't for webassign, so I have no way to confirm.
 
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irishbob said:
Well I think it's C for both, but for some reason I'm not confident. I just want to make sure I'm understanding the question. So it's only asking about the electric field at a given point 6 (and 4) cm away without them anywhere near each other, meaning their fields are not interacting at all. Is this right?

That's the way I read it.
 
Cool, just wanted to make sure. I understand this stuff pretty well conceptually, but I'm awful at interpreting the questions.
 
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