Consider two metal spheres of radii

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sunshine748
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Metal Spheres
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
1 reply · 4K views
Sunshine748
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Consider two metal spheres of radii r1 = R and r2 = 2R, both charged to the same potential V0.
a) What is the ratio n1/n2 of their surface charge densities?

Homework Equations


n(eta) = charge/area
Er = -dV/dr

The Attempt at a Solution


a) n1/n2 = Q/(4*pi*R2) / Q/(16*pi*R2) = 4

The answer is supposed to be 2, and I don't know what I'm doing wrong.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
The spheres are charged to the same potential (volts), not the same charge (Coulombs).