How Do You Determine the Electric Potential Outside a Charged Sphere?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on determining the electric potential outside a charged sphere with a non-uniform charge density defined as ρ(r) = Ar^(1/2), where A = 0.0200 C/m^(7/12) and the sphere has a radius of 2.00 m. To find the electric potential at a distance of 3.00 m from the center, one must first calculate the total charge by integrating the charge density over the sphere's volume. Utilizing Gauss' Law, the potential outside the sphere can be treated as that of a point charge located at the center, simplifying the calculations significantly.

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  • Understanding of electric potential and charge density
  • Familiarity with Gauss' Law
  • Basic calculus for integration
  • Knowledge of spherical symmetry in electrostatics
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  • Learn how to integrate charge density functions to find total charge
  • Study the application of Gauss' Law in electrostatics
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Here's the question:

A sphere has a charge distributed throughout it such that the charge density goes as p(r)=Ar^(1/2). A=0.0200C/m^(7/12). The sphere has a radius of 2.00m, determine the electric potentioal at 3.00m from the center of the sphere?

well I got the charge density which is (0.0200C/m^(7/12))(2.00m)^(1/2)=0.0282 <---( not sure what unit would be C/m^(?)).

now E=(Q/a^3)(r), I solved for Q and ended up with Q=(E/r)(a^3), not 1) I am not sure I'm even on the right track, and 2) If I am do I use the charge density for E?, I'm really confused can someone help me? I don't where to start! ?
 
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OK - to get potential, in this case, since it's got spherical symmetry, you can exploit Gauss' law

Take the total charge inside the sphere by integrating the charge density over the whole volume.

Then, by Gauss' Law, the potential outside the sphere is the same as that for a point charge of the same total charge as the sphere, which is located at the centre of the sphere.
 

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