Ohms law for concentric spherical shells

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of resistance in relation to thin spherical shells. The author asks for clarification on the statement that successive shells contribute less and less, and posits that the reason for this diminishing contribution is due to distance from the shell. The discussion then moves on to applying a formula for resistance to a thin spherical shell and examining how it changes with radius and as the radius approaches infinity. The conversation concludes by suggesting an integration of the resistance expression to find the total resistance between two given radii.
  • #1
zezima1
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Look at the attached problem with solutions. I don't understand what the author means in c) when he says that succesive shells contribute less and less because the cross sectional area grows proportional to r2. The flux through a closed surface is always the same (Gauss' law). Rather the reason why the b becomes negligible is in my opionion that you are very far away from the shell. Can anyone explain what the author means by this "succesive shells contribute less and less"?
 

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  • #2
There is an elementary formula for the resistance, dR, of a thin slab of material of thickness dx and cross-sectional area A: dR = [itex]\frac{dx}{σA}[/itex].

See if you can apply this to a thin spherical shell of radius r and thickness dx = dr.

How does the resistance of the shell depend on r? What happens as r goes to ∞?

If you integrate the expression for dR from r = a to r = b you should get the formula for the total resistance of the material that lies between the sphere of radius r = a and the sphere of radius r = b.
 

1. What is Ohm's Law for concentric spherical shells?

Ohm's Law for concentric spherical shells states that the electric potential difference between two concentric spherical shells is directly proportional to the product of their radii and the electric field between them.

2. How is Ohm's Law for concentric spherical shells derived?

Ohm's Law for concentric spherical shells is derived from Gauss's Law and the equation for the capacitance of a spherical capacitor. It is also based on the assumption that the electric field between the shells is uniform.

3. What are the applications of Ohm's Law for concentric spherical shells?

Ohm's Law for concentric spherical shells is commonly used in the analysis of spherical capacitors and in determining the electric potential at a point between two charged spherical shells.

4. How does Ohm's Law for concentric spherical shells differ from Ohm's Law for cylindrical shells?

The main difference between Ohm's Law for concentric spherical shells and Ohm's Law for cylindrical shells is the geometry of the shells. While concentric spherical shells have a spherical geometry, cylindrical shells have a cylindrical geometry. This results in different equations and principles being used to analyze the electric potential between the shells.

5. Can Ohm's Law for concentric spherical shells be applied to non-uniform electric fields?

No, Ohm's Law for concentric spherical shells is only applicable to situations where the electric field between the shells is uniform. In cases of non-uniform electric fields, more complex equations and principles must be used to analyze the electric potential between the shells.

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