- #1
Samson4
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This is my first post but I have frequented the forum for a little while now. I tried to figure things out myself and often times I am lead here by google. So my question is this:
How is the electric field of an object altered when the surface area of the object is altered?
Example: Take a perfectly smooth sphere and charge it to 100 volts. Then take the same sphere and etch it to increase it's surface area 100 times. By that I mean similar to etching aluminium with hcl in capacitor production. When comparing the electric fields, are they different in anyway?
My first thought was that by increasing the surface area; therefore capacitance, you would have more electric field lines on the altered sphere. Since those must terminate on a conductor or at infinity, it would have a stronger electric field. I was thinking with the idea that every charge carrier gets an electric field line. I don't think that is correct.
Now I think the answer is that the electric fields are the same. However, the altered sphere would feel a stronger force if placed in an external electric field. Instead of individual charges getting field lines, I think it's more accurate to say that the electric field is a measure of total surface charge pressure.
Can you guys shed some light on this or point me to something that will help me understand?
How is the electric field of an object altered when the surface area of the object is altered?
Example: Take a perfectly smooth sphere and charge it to 100 volts. Then take the same sphere and etch it to increase it's surface area 100 times. By that I mean similar to etching aluminium with hcl in capacitor production. When comparing the electric fields, are they different in anyway?
My first thought was that by increasing the surface area; therefore capacitance, you would have more electric field lines on the altered sphere. Since those must terminate on a conductor or at infinity, it would have a stronger electric field. I was thinking with the idea that every charge carrier gets an electric field line. I don't think that is correct.
Now I think the answer is that the electric fields are the same. However, the altered sphere would feel a stronger force if placed in an external electric field. Instead of individual charges getting field lines, I think it's more accurate to say that the electric field is a measure of total surface charge pressure.
Can you guys shed some light on this or point me to something that will help me understand?
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