Electric Potential, spherical shell: Multiple Choice

1. Sep 11, 2009

TwinGemini14

A non-conducting, spherical shell centered at the origin has radius r1 and total charge -Q, where Q is a positive value. (DO NOT ASSUME THE POTENTIAL AT INFINTIY IS ZERO!)

http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu347/TwinGemini14/ELECpotential.gif

1) The electric potential just outside the surface of the shell is __________ the electric potential infinitely far from the shell.

A) higher than
B) lower than
C) equal to

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This problem stumped me. I figured that the electric potential outside the sphere was...
V = -Q/(4*pi*EpsilonNot*r)

So as r grows, the potential actually gets higher.
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2) If a negative charge outside the shell is moved closer to the shell, the potential energy of the system will __________. If a positive charge outside the shell is moved closer to the shell, the potential energy of the system will __________.

A) decrease, increase
B) increase, stay the same
C) increase, decrease

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Since the force and displacement vectors are acting in opposite directions, the total work decreases. PE = -W, so then that means that the potential energy increases. The opposite is true with the positive charge.