Electric potential and conducting wire

[Hardik Batra]

There are two sphere of radius a and b and they are connected by conducting wire. Then why the electric potential becomes same of both the sphere?

 

[berkeman]

There are two sphere of radius a and b and they are connected by conducting wire. Then why the electric potential becomes same of both the sphere?

Let's say there was a small potential difference initially between the spheres when you connected them with the conducting wire. What happens next?

 

[Hardik Batra]

I don't know what happens next that was I am asking to you. Why potential becomes same?

 

[berkeman]

I don't know what happens next that was I am asking to you. Why potential becomes same?

And I'm asking you -- when you have a potential difference across a conducting wire's ends, what happens? Approximate the wire as a 1 Ohm resistor for simplicity. What is Ohm's Law?

 

[Hardik Batra]

I think electron will move from higher potential to lower potential.

 

[berkeman]

I think electron will move from higher potential to lower potential.

Good! What does that electron movement do to the overall potential difference between the two spheres?

 

[Hardik Batra]

Electron moving from higher potential it will release the energy and higher potential decrease?

 

[berkeman]

Electron moving from higher potential it will release the energy and higher potential decrease?

Correct, the potential decreases. Just think of the 2 spheres as the 2 plates of a parallel-plate capacitor. When you have a charged-up capacitor, and you connect a resistor across the terminals of the capacitor, the capacitor discharges through the resistor until there is 0 Volts across the capacitor (so the plates are at the same potential).

Does that make sense?