What is the Work Required to Charge a Spherical Shell?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the work required to charge a spherical shell with a specified radius and total charge. The subject area pertains to electrostatics and the relationship between work and electric potential energy.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster expresses uncertainty about how to begin the problem, suggesting the need for an integral. Some participants discuss the relationship between work and energy, while others question the implications of the spherical shell's geometry on the potential energy involved.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem. Some have offered insights into the relationship between work and potential energy, while others are seeking clarification on the specific potential energy relevant to a spherical shell.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating assumptions about the electric potential energy and its dependence on the geometry of the spherical shell. There is also mention of a specific formula, but its relevance to the discussion remains to be clarified.

grief
Messages
73
Reaction score
1
the problem is: "Calculate the work that must be done to charge a spherical shell of radius R and total charge Q", and I have no idea where to start. You probably have to write some sort of an integral but I don't know how. Can anyone give me a hint?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
the answer, by the way is ke*Q^2/(2R), if that helps
 
Think about the equivalence of work and energy, and the fact that charging a sphere changes the electric potential energy.
 
I know that work is equal to the change of potential energy, but the potential energy of what? Won't it be just keQ/r^2. How does the fact that it is a spherical shell affect the problem?
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
972
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K