Understanding Charge Distribution in a Spherical Shell

In summary, the problem involves a positive point charge at the center of a spherical shell with an inner radius of 60 cm and outer radius of 90 cm. The net charge of the spherical shell is zero, meaning that the positive charge on the inner surface is equal in magnitude to the negative charge on the outer surface. This occurs because the positive charge at the center attracts free electrons towards it, resulting in a neutral initial state and accumulation of equal positive charge on the outer surface. The ambiguous language in the question may refer to the absence of net charge within the sphere due to the redistribution of charges on the inner and outer surfaces.
  • #1
sonutulsiani
138
0

Homework Statement




I have a simple question.

There is positive point charge in the center of a sphere 2.5 micro c. The spherical shell has inner radius of 60 cm and outer radius of 90 cm. The net charge of the spherical shell is equal to zero.


Homework Equations






The Attempt at a Solution






Now the net charge = 0 :

Does this mean the 2.5 + charge on the inner radius + charge on the outer radius = 0?
Because that's what I did while solving the problem.

which gave me Charge on inner radius = -2.5 and charge on outer radius = 0

But the solution manual says that charge on the inner radius + charge on the outer radius = 0

which means Charge on inner radius = -2.5 and charge on outer radius = +2.5
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Positive point charge at the center attracts free electrons towards it resulting equal negative on the inner surface of the spherical shell. Initially the spherical shell is neutral. So the equal positive charge accumulates on the outer surface of the spherical shell because the charges cannot be present inside he metal.
 
  • #3
But what does net charge mean? It means that all the charges present inside are equal to 0 in this case right?
 
  • #4
I'm guessing that the ambiguous language means there is no net charge within the sphere because all the charges have gone to the inner surface and outer surface. The outside surface should have a total charge of 2.5µC.
 
  • #5


I understand your confusion and can provide a clear explanation. In this scenario, the net charge of the spherical shell is indeed equal to zero. This means that the total positive charge of the inner and outer radii must be equal to the negative charge of the point charge in the center.

When solving the problem, you correctly determined that the charge on the inner radius must be -2.5 micro c to balance out the positive charge of the point charge. However, the charge on the outer radius cannot be zero, as there needs to be an equal amount of positive charge to cancel out the negative charge on the inner radius. Therefore, the correct solution is that the charge on the outer radius is also +2.5 micro c, resulting in a net charge of zero for the spherical shell.

It is important to remember that the net charge of a system must always be conserved, meaning the total positive charge must equal the total negative charge. In this case, the positive charge on the outer radius is necessary to balance out the negative charge on the inner radius and maintain a net charge of zero for the spherical shell.
 

1. What is charge distribution in a spherical shell?

Charge distribution in a spherical shell refers to the arrangement and concentration of electric charge particles on the surface of a spherical object. This distribution is determined by the properties of the object and the surrounding electric field.

2. How is charge distributed in a spherical shell?

In a spherical shell, the charge is evenly distributed on the surface of the object. This means that the charge particles are spread out uniformly and there is an equal amount of charge per unit area on every point of the surface.

3. What factors affect the charge distribution in a spherical shell?

The charge distribution in a spherical shell is affected by the magnitude and type of charge on the object, the radius of the shell, and the presence of any external electric fields. These factors determine the overall strength and pattern of the charge distribution on the surface of the object.

4. How is the electric field inside a spherical shell affected by its charge distribution?

In a spherical shell, the electric field inside the object is zero. This is because the charge distribution on the surface creates an equal and opposite electric field, cancelling out any potential field inside the shell.

5. Why is understanding charge distribution important in a spherical shell?

Understanding charge distribution in a spherical shell is important in various applications, such as in electrostatics and in the design and functioning of electronic devices. It also helps in understanding the behavior of electric fields and the interaction between charged objects.

Similar threads

  • Advanced Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • Advanced Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • Advanced Physics Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • Advanced Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • Advanced Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
365
  • Advanced Physics Homework Help
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • Advanced Physics Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
5K
  • Advanced Physics Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Advanced Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Advanced Physics Homework Help
Replies
7
Views
5K
Back
Top