1) Expain in words what happens when charge is applied to a conducting spherical

Question

1) Expain in words what happens when charge is applied to a conducting spherical surface, see figure 1(b) by another smaller conducting surface. (for example, referring to the electrostatics equipment to be used in lab: say that a charge proof plane touches the conducting sphere.) What can be said about the charge distribution on the sphere? Explain

2.) What, if anything, will happen differently if instead of a spherical conducting surface in #3 - the proof plane comes into direct contact with an oblong conducting surface as shown in figure 1(a). Explain

figure 1a

http://imgh.us/Screen_Shot_2015-02-04_at_6.16.25_PM.png

figure 1b

http://imgh.us/Screen_Shot_2015-02-04_at_6.16.32_PM.png

Explanation / Answer

(1) when some charge is applied to the spherical conducting surface, it gets the same charge (positive or negative) as the conducting surface .the charge will continue to flow from the smaller conducting surface to spherical coducting surface till both acquire the same potential.the charge will get uniformly distributed along the surface of the sphere and hence the spherical surface will have uiform surface charge distribution.

(2) If an oblong conducting surface is used instead of spherical surface,the charge will again get distributed along the surface of oblong conducting surface but the charge distribution will not be uniform. the surface charge density will be more at the pointed ends of oblong surface because of less area there.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 1
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.