Potential inside a hollow sphere (spherical shell)

[AkemiHummus]

Suppose that we have a hollow sphere (spherical shell) whose surface is held at some constant potential V₀. What is the potential inside the sphere?

I had an argument with my physics professor over this. He claims that the potential inside depends on how far you are from the center and becomes zero at the center ("so that it doesn't blow up").

Wouldn't the potential at ANY point inside the sphere just be V₀? Would the answer matter depending on whether the surface is a conductor on insulator, even?

 

[BvU]

Hello AH,

there must be a misunderstanding between you. Check out gauss' law applications, like for a conducting sphere.

 

[Meir Achuz]

The potential is constant at V_0. There could be some misunderstanding in what your professor is thinking of.