Two, concentric, thin spherical shells of radii R1 = 10.3 cm and R2 = 12.9 cm ar

Question

Two, concentric, thin spherical shells of radii R1 = 10.3 cm and R2 = 12.9 cm are uniformly charged with a total charge Q1 = –69.5 C and Q2 = 69.5 C, respectively. What is the potential of the outer shell?

Solve for Voltage.

(hint: The electric potential at any point in space is equal to the sum of the potentials created at that location by all the electric charges given in the problem. Use 0 = 8.85 × 10-12 C2/N2m2.)

I honestly do not know what I am doing wrong. I try to attack this problem from a couple different angles, but always end up with the same two different wrong answers. Please explain, or show work so I can learn.

Thanks.

Explanation / Answer

Potential on the outer shell will be because of two things:

So the net potential at the outer shell will be sum of these two potential.

V = V1+V2

V = kQ2/R2 + kQ1/R2 = k(Q1+Q2)/R2 = 9*10^9*0/R2 hence the potential at outer shell will be zero

It can also been seen from the concept that the potential at a point is equal to the the work done on a unit charge to take it from infinity to that point. Here electric field outside the sphere is zero hence work done is zero hence zero potential.

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