Help! Electric Field in Sphere with Uniform Charge

[Color_of_Cyan]

Homework Statement

A solid, insulating sphere of radius a has a uniform charge density of ρ and a total charge of Q. Concentric with this sphere is an uncharged, conducting hollow sphere whose inner and outer radii are b and c, as shown.

A). Find the magnitude of the electric field in the following regions:

r < a (Use the following as necessary: ρ, ε0, and r.)

a < r < b

b < r < c

r > cB). Determine the induced charge per unit area on the inner and outer surfaces of the hollow sphere.

Homework Equations

Gauss's law for electric field (?):

E∫dA = (q in) / (ε₀)

E = ke q / r²

E = 0 inside a CONDUCTOR

q = σdA (surface area?)

q = ρdV (volume? )

The Attempt at a Solution

I'm just concerned about the first part r< a and hopefully I will understand the restThis is just really tough for me... so many things I need to look out for and it is really confusing.

It is confusing when thinking about dimensions as the uniform charge is concerned with volume ( q = ρdV) yet I thought Gauss's Law ( flux = E ∫ dA ) was just concerned with 2D surface area only. Or am I missing something? Also I am not sure how the inner sphere, being an insulator, has any affect on the electric field.So...

for r < a, the electric field is not 0 and so

E ∫ dA = q in / ε₀

E (4πr²) = q in / ε₀

E = q in / (4πr²ε₀)

which turns out wrong for r < a. It is still wrong even when I substitute q in as pV.

 

[david13579]

Let me try

I think you were doing fine but substituted the wrong charge:

Q=ρV=ρ((4/3)πa³) therefor ρ=Q/((4/3)πa³)
for the new volume inside the sphere then q=ρ/((4/3)πr³)
if you substitute those to what you found then you get E = q in / (4πr²ε₀) = ρ((4/3)πr³)/(4πr²ε₀)
this equals ρr/3ε₀ and if you substitute for ρ then Q/((4/3)πa³)r/3ε₀ = Qr/(4/3)πa³3ε₀ which equals Qr/4πε₀a³

 

[Office_Shredder]

Also I am not sure how the inner sphere, being an insulator, has any affect on the electric field.

If, for example, the inner sphere was a conductor, it would be impossible to have a uniform charge density (as then the electric field inside the sphere would not be zero). This is the only reason they're stressing that it is an insulator

 

[Color_of_Cyan]

I got all the answers to it now, thanks for your help.

How would I go about finding the induced charges now? How would I start?