Determine the magnitude of the charge on the inner and outter surface of sphere

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on determining the charge magnitudes on the inner and outer surfaces of a hollow conducting spherical shell with an inner radius of 8 cm and an outer radius of 10 cm. The electric field at the inner surface is 90 N/C directed inward, while the outer surface has an electric field of 80 N/C directed outward. Utilizing Gauss's law, the relationship between electric field and charge is established through the equations E = kqt/r1^3 for the inner surface and E = kqt/r2^2 for the outer surface. The solution requires calculating the total potential from the charges on both surfaces and considering the isolated charge within the shell.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Gauss's law in electrostatics
  • Familiarity with electric field concepts and their mathematical representations
  • Knowledge of spherical symmetry in charge distributions
  • Ability to manipulate equations involving electric fields and potentials
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the application of Gauss's law in different geometries
  • Learn how to calculate electric fields for spherical charge distributions
  • Explore the concept of electric potential and its relation to electric fields
  • Investigate the effects of charge distribution on the electric field inside and outside conductors
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics, particularly those studying electromagnetism, as well as educators and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of electrostatic principles related to conducting spheres.

gothloli
Messages
37
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A hollow conducting spherical shell has an inner radius of 8 cm and an outer radius of
10 cm. The electric field at the inner surface of the shell, Ei, has a magnitude of 90 N/C
and points toward the centre of the sphere, and the electric field at the outer surface, Eo,
has a magnitude of 80 N/C and points away from the center of the sphere (see Figure A).
Determine the magnitude of the charge on the inner surface and the outer surface of the
spherical shell.

Homework Equations


For the inner surface: E =kqt/r1r^{3}
For the outer surface E = kqt/r2^{2}

The Attempt at a Solution


This uses Gauss's law. For the inner surface, set gaussian surface, with r1<r, r is the inner radius.
For outer surface, gaussian surface outside the sphere. r2>rs which is radius of shell.
I'm stupid I don't know what to do.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
For there to be a field inside the conducting shell, there must be some isolated charge inside it. By symmetry, you can consider that to be at the centre. Let that charge be qc. There are also charges spread over the inside surface of the sphere, qi say, and on the outside surface, qo.
Can you write down an expression for the potential at distance r from the centre? To start with, just consider a single shell of charge at some radius a. You need to consider r < a and r > a separately. When you've got that, you can write down the total potential from the three charges just by adding them up.
 

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
11
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
5K
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K