- #1
mtong
- 33
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Hi,
I have recently been reading through / self learning some material on Electrostatics and I came across this question.
The minimum electric field that can be supported by dry air at atmospheric pressure is about 10^5 volts/m. What is the maximum potential difference to the Earth for a conduction sphere of radius 10cmin air? (Take the distance of the sphere to the Earth to infinite).
I can't quite figure out how to approach it. I have tried placing a charge q inside the sphere and then calculating the value of q supposing the electric field on the surface is 10^5 v/m and from that calculating the potential at the surface. However this answer is incorrect and I am out of ideas. Any help would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Lucas
I have recently been reading through / self learning some material on Electrostatics and I came across this question.
The minimum electric field that can be supported by dry air at atmospheric pressure is about 10^5 volts/m. What is the maximum potential difference to the Earth for a conduction sphere of radius 10cmin air? (Take the distance of the sphere to the Earth to infinite).
I can't quite figure out how to approach it. I have tried placing a charge q inside the sphere and then calculating the value of q supposing the electric field on the surface is 10^5 v/m and from that calculating the potential at the surface. However this answer is incorrect and I am out of ideas. Any help would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Lucas