Suppose that the Earth (assumed spherical) has a net charge that is not zero. Wi

Question

Suppose that the Earth (assumed spherical)
has a net charge that is not zero.
Without specifying the electric potential
at 1, is it permissible to adopt the surface
of the Earth as a standard reference point
of potential and assign the electric potential
V = 0 to it?
1. No. If the net charge is not zero, the
potential should never be assigned to 0.
2. Yes, and there is no restriction on the sign
of the charge.
3. Yes, with the restriction that the net
charge on the Earth is positive.
4. Yes, with the restriction that the net
charge is negative.

Explanation / Answer

The electrical potential of the earth, we can assign as V =0 In general there is no absolute potential, we can find only the potential difference So we can define the potential with consideration from infinty We can describe the work in mechanics the motin of the particle with reference       So here also we consider for potential difference earth as V = 0 irrespective of the sign Therefore   option (2) is correct Yes, and there is no restriction on the sign
of the charge.

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