Charged spheres

Two positively charged metal spheres with different radii r 1 > r 2 r_1 > r_2 are electrically, conductively connected so that their electric potential is the same. Which of the following statements are correct?

  • A: The electric field on the metal surface is larger on the large sphere ( E 1 > E 2 ) . (E_1 > E_2).
  • B: The total charge of the large sphere is larger ( Q 1 > Q 2 ) . (Q_1 > Q_2).
  • C: The charge density on both spheres is the same ( σ 1 = σ 2 ) . (\sigma_1 = \sigma_2).


Note: The charge density equals σ i = charge surface area = Q i 4 π r i 2 \displaystyle \sigma_i = \frac{\text{charge}}{\text{surface area}} = \frac{Q_i}{4 \pi r_i^2} for i = 1 , 2. i = 1,2.

Only A is true Only B is true Only C is true A and B are true A and C are true B and C are true All statements are true All statements are false

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1 solution

Markus Michelmann
Oct 24, 2017

The outside electric field of a sphere follows frow Gauss' law E A = E 4 π r 2 = Q ε 0 E = 1 4 π ε 0 Q r 2 \begin{aligned} \oint \vec E \cdot \vec A &= E \cdot 4 \pi r^2 = \frac{Q}{\varepsilon_0} \\ \Rightarrow \quad E &= \frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon_0} \frac{Q}{r^2} \end{aligned} since the field E ( r ) = E ( r ) r \vec E(\vec r) = E(r) \vec r has spherical symmetry. Therefore, the electric potential equals ϕ ( r ) = r E d r = r E ( r ) d r = 1 4 π ε 0 Q r \phi(\vec r) = \int_{\vec r}^\infty \vec E \cdot d \vec r' = \int_{r}^\infty E(r') d r' = \frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon_0} \frac{Q}{r} Since ϕ 1 = ϕ 2 \phi_1 = \phi_2 for both spheres it follows Q 1 Q 2 = r 1 r 2 or Q i r i E 1 E 2 = r 2 r 1 or E i 1 r i σ 1 σ 2 = r 2 r 1 or σ i 1 r i \begin{aligned} \frac{Q_1}{Q_2} &= \frac{r_1}{r_2} & \text{or} \quad Q_i &\propto r_i \\ \frac{E_1}{E_2} &= \frac{r_2}{r_1} & \text{or} \quad E_i &\propto \frac{1}{r_i} \\ \frac{\sigma_1}{\sigma_2} &= \frac{r_2}{r_1} & \text{or} \quad \sigma_i &\propto \frac{1}{r_i} \\ \end{aligned} Therefore, Q 1 > Q 2 , E 1 < E 2 and σ 1 < σ 2 Q_1 > Q_2, \quad E_1 < E_2 \quad \text{and} \quad \sigma_1 < \sigma_2

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