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  1. Physics
  2. Electricity & Magnetism
  3. Electric & Magnetic Fields
  4. Gauss' Law
  5. 164748

Electrical Fields in Spheres

1) If the electric field in some region is given (in spherical coordinates) by the expression

E(r) = (A* r(hat)+ B sin θ cos φ* φ(hat)) /r ,

where A and B are constants,

what is the charge density?

2) A metal sphere of radius R, carrying charge q, is surrounded by a thick concentric metal shell (inner radius a, outer radius b). The shell carries no net charge.

(a) Find the surface charge density σ at R, at a, and at b.

(b) Find the potential at the center, using infinity as the reference point.

(c) Now the outer surface is touched to a grounding wire, which lowers its potential
to zero (same as infinity). How do your answers to (a) and (b) change?

3) What is the force of attraction between q and a grounded conducting sphere?

Solution Summary

This in-depth solution shows step-by-step calculations and annotated diagrams to determine the charge density of the electric field, surface charge density, potential at the center of the sphere, charge with a grounding wire and also the force of attraction.

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