Electricity and magnetism (Gauss' law)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around applying Gauss' law to determine the electric field and potential due to two spherical shells with different radii and charges. The inner shell is uniformly charged with charge Q1, while the outer shell has charge Q2. Participants are exploring the implications of Gauss' law in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • One participant attempts to derive the electric field using Gauss' law, while another questions the terminology used, specifically the mention of "volume ratio," suggesting it may have been a typo for "thin shell." There is also a call to clarify the application of physical laws for different regions.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing attempts and raising questions about terminology and the application of Gauss' law. Some guidance has been offered regarding the need to consider different domains for the electric field, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating potential misunderstandings regarding the setup of the problem and the definitions involved, particularly concerning the application of Gauss' law in different regions of the spherical shells.

Silentwhale
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Homework Statement


Given two things spherical shells radii r1 and r2 with r2 > r1.
The inner she'll is charged uniformly with a total charge Q1, while the outer shell with Q2.

A) use gauss law to computer the electric field everywhere
B) Use any method to calculate the potential everywhere.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I will be attempting this problem soon just wanted to post the question so I wouldn't waste time it is for my midterm practice. Thank you. I will post my trial solution when I am done trying this problem. Thank you
 
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OK so here is my attempt to the problem:

A) EA = (Qin/ε) (volume ratio)

E (
4(pi)r1^2) = (Q1/ ε) ((4/3 pi r1^3)/(4/3 pi r2^3))

E (
4 pi r1^2) = Q1 r1^3 / ε r2^2

E=
Q1 r1^3 / ε r2^3 4pi r1^2

E
= Q1 r1 / 4pi ε r2^3

E
= KQ1 r1 / r2^3 final answer for a

B)
v= kQ1/r1 + kQ2/r2

V
= (9 x 10^9 Nm^2/ c^2)(Q1/r1 + Q2/r2) answer part b
 
Silentwhale said:
A) EA = (Qin/ε) (volume ratio)

Volume ratio? You have a typo in your post, but I believe what you intended to type was “thin shell”. Your “volume ratio” suggests you are considering these to be uniform charge densities. Also, even if that were the case, the electric field will have different functional forms over different domains of radius. You have to find a separate answer for each domain.
 
I do not understand where A) came from. What is this volume ratio? As pointed out in post #3, you are asked to find the electric field everywhere, so first take the case where you want the electric field somewhere inside the inner sphere. Write down the law of physics that you are going to use to solve the problem and aply that law.
 

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