How to find energy stored between two spheres?

  • Thread starter Thread starter curt291
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Energy Spheres
AI Thread Summary
To find the energy stored between two concentric spherical conductors, the surface charge density and dimensions must be accurately converted to standard units. The calculations involve determining the capacitance using the formula C=4(pi)(Epsilon_0)((R_a*R_b)/(R_a-R_b)), where R_a and R_b are the radii of the spheres. The charge can be calculated from the surface area and charge density, leading to the stored energy formula U=.5(Q^2/C). The calculated energy of 2.504e-4 kJ does not match the provided answer choices, indicating a possible error in unit conversion or calculation. Accurate unit handling is crucial for resolving discrepancies in the final energy value.
curt291
Messages
5
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A spherical conductor of radius 7.00 mm carries a surface charge density of 9.00 μC/mm2. A second hollow, concentric, spherical conductor has an inner radius of 7.09 mm. How much stored energy is there between the spheres?


Homework Equations


C=Q/V
A=4pi(r^2)
C=4(pi)(Epsilon_0)((R_a*R_b)/(R_a-R_b))
surface charge density = Q/A
U=.5*Q^2/C=.5*C*V^2=.5QV


The Attempt at a Solution


I keep getting 2.5o4e^-4 kJ but it isn't one of the answer choices. There is a 250 kJ, but that makes me off by a factor of 1 million...
Here are the answer choices:
A) 16kJ B) 1000kJ C) 6.4kJ D) 250kJ
Thank you very much!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your charge density is in charge/mm^2 and the dimensions of the sphere are in mm. Do you have Epsilon_0 in the right units or did you convert mm above to m?
 
Yes, I did convert everything to standard units.
R_a=.00709m
R_b=.007m
σ=.009 coulombs/m^2

C=Q/V_ba=4(pi)(Epsilon_0)((R_a*R_b)/R_a-R_b))=6.1327e-11F

Surface area of inner sphere =4(pi)(.007^2)=6.1575e-4m2
σ=Q/A so Q=5.5418e-6

U=.5(Q^2/C)=.5((5.5418e-6)^2)/6.1327e-11)=2.504e-4 kJ
in kJ because that's what the answer choices are in.
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Back
Top