# Spherical Shell Insulator

## Homework Statement

An insulator in the shape of a spherical shell is shown. The insulator is defined by an inner radius a = 4 cm and an outer radius b = 6 cm and carries a total charge of Q = +9 microC. You may assume that the charge is distributed uniformly throughout the volume of the insulator. What is Ey, the y-component of the electric field at point P which is located at (x, y) = (0, -5 cm)?

## Homework Equations

Volume of a sphere: 4/3pi R^3
Electric Field: E=4pi*r^2 = Qen / sigma o
Rho = total charge / total shell volume
Electric field at point P = rho * volume with charge

## The Attempt at a Solution

Consulted my physics prof on this, but I am still not getting the correct answer (is an interactive online problem that says "OK" or "NO"). He told me to calculate the volume of the sphere, which was .000637 due to the large hole in the middle (volume only applicable to an area between r = 4 cm and r = 6 cm). Calculated rho to be 0.014135 based upon a total charge of +9 micro Coulombs...is this where I'm going wrong? Based upon the answer I received for rho, I multiplied it by the volume of the area between 4 and 5 cm, which I thought was represented by the formula 4/3 pi r^3. That gave me an answer of 5.92085 e -08 for the electric field. There is no x-component and the point lies on the y-axis, so no angle is considered. I tried using both a positive and negative value and cannot get a happy little "OK". Where did I go wrong? Please help!!!

## The Attempt at a Solution

Shooting Star
Homework Helper
Electric field at point P = rho * volume with charge
I didn't understand this eqn.

[Based upon the answer I received for rho, I multiplied it by the volume of the area between 4 and 5 cm, which I thought was represented by the formula 4/3 pi r^3.
I presume you did 4/3 pi (5^3 -4^3) to get the volume?

Otherwise, your method looks all right.

I hadn't tried using 5^3 - 4^3, but when I did, I still didn't get the correct answer. The equation of E = rho * volume with charge was given to me by my professor.

Shooting Star
Homework Helper
I think you need to know more about electrostatics before solving this problem. Read up on the field of a point charge, the field of a uniformly charged shell -- inside and outside. Then, if you still don't get the answer, you can again post your question here. We'll be here.

How long will that take to do? Maybe just a couple of days.

Ok, I'll look more at the book and see what happens!

Received some help from a classmate...apparently when they wrote the online question, they messed around with the units...A LOT. Thanks for all the help, though!

I think we are in same physics 212 class. Can you finish explaining how the units were messed up? Because I'm pretty certain I have the right answer but it's not correct according to the system.