Electric Field of a Conducting Sphere

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the electric field at a distance of 0.612 cm from the center of a charged conducting sphere with a radius of 0.100 cm, given that the electric field at 0.206 cm is 485 N/C. The formula used is E(r) = (1/4∏ε0) * (q * r/R3). Attempts to derive the charge (q) from the known electric field and then calculate the new electric field resulted in an incorrect answer of 1440.874 N/C. The participants questioned the applicability of the formula outside the sphere and the relationship between electric field and distance.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric fields and Gauss's Law
  • Familiarity with the formula E(r) = (1/4∏ε0) * (q * r/R3)
  • Knowledge of conducting spheres in electrostatics
  • Basic algebra for solving equations and ratios
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the concept of electric fields around conductors
  • Learn about the application of Gauss's Law in electrostatics
  • Study the relationship between electric field strength and distance from a charged object
  • Explore the implications of charge distribution on conducting surfaces
USEFUL FOR

Students studying electrostatics, physics educators, and anyone interested in understanding electric fields around charged conductors.

Yosty22
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Homework Statement



At a distance of 0.206cm from the center of a charged conducting sphere with radius 0.100cm, the electric field is 485N/C . What is the electric field 0.612cm from the center of the sphere?

Homework Equations



E(r)=1/4∏ε_0 * qr/R^3
where r is radius of the Gaussian surface and R is the radius of the sphere

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried this two different ways, and they were both the same answer (and both wrong). Firstly, I used the given E-field (485N/C) and plugged it into the above equation and solved for q. Once I solved for q, I used that q with a new distance from the center of the sphere to solve for the new E Field at that position. When I did that, I got that the electric field should equal 1440.874 N/C. I plugged this into my online homework site, and it said I was wrong.

Since that way seemed to be wrong, I tried to just set it up as a ratio. I said that:

(485N/C)/0.00206m = (x N/C)/.00612m

Solving for x, which represents the E Field, I again got 1440.874 N/C.

Any ideas where I might have gone wrong?
 
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Yosty22 said:

Homework Statement



At a distance of 0.206cm from the center of a charged conducting sphere with radius 0.100cm, the electric field is 485N/C . What is the electric field 0.612cm from the center of the sphere?

Homework Equations



E(r)=1/4∏ε_0 * qr/R^3
where r is radius of the Gaussian surface and R is the radius of the sphere

Does this formula apply to the field outside the sphere?

I tried this two different ways, and they were both the same answer (and both wrong). Firstly, I used the given E-field (485N/C) and plugged it into the above equation and solved for q.

How? Using the formula above?

(485N/C)/0.00206m = (x N/C)/.00612m

Is electric field inversely proportional to distance?
 

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