Electromagnetic fields: Eletric potential inside a non conductive sphere

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GhostStudent
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Homework Statement



Hello all;
i am trying to calculate the potential, inside a non conductive sphere of radius equal to a, in a point at a distance r from the center of the sphere.

Homework Equations


i know that:
Equation phi(2) - phi(1) = minus the integral from 1 to 2 of E ds, where E and s are vectors.

where E and s are vectors;
and that the Eletric field inside the sphere is:
Equation E = Q·r / (4·π·ε0·a³) for the electric field inside a uniformly charged non-conductive sphere of radius a at distance r from its center.



The Attempt at a Solution



since the distance r is:
0<r<a
i changed the limits so that:
Equation: phi(r) - phi(a) = -integral from 0 to a of E ds = -integral from 0 to r of E ds - integral from r to a of E ds


but here comes the part were i am stuck:
i found:
Equation: phi(r) - phi(a) = Q*a^2 / (8*pi*epsilon_0*a^3)

but the correct answer, so far, should be
Equation: phi(r) - phi(a) = Q / (8 pi e0 a^3) times (a^2 - r^2), giving the electric potential difference inside a uniformly charged sphere.

which means that the first integral [
Line integral from 0 to r of E dot ds, with a minus sign in front, written as a handwritten-style equation.
] should be equal to zero, but i can't seem to understand why

thx in advance.
p.s.:
please tell me if the images are not showing up.
 
It is not clear why you have two line integrals. You should use

[tex]\varphi(r)-\varphi(a)=-\int^{r}_{a}\vec{E}\cdot \vec{ds}[/tex]
 
i guess i was thinking more on terms of the path i should take, that's why my first integral ranges from 0 to a (size of the sphere), but since r is greater than 0 and smaller than a (because its inside the sphere, away from both the center and the surface) i changed the ranges.

dont know if i made it clear or not.

also, i was going to apply that equation, like you said, directly, but when my teacher demonstrated a similar problem in class, he also used those limits, so i guess i got a little mixed up.

thx man