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Tue 22 Jan, 2008 03:31 am
Two conducting spheres of different sizes are at the same potential. The radius of the larger sphere is four times larger than that of the smaller sphere. If a total charge Q is placed on this system, what fraction of Q sits on the larger sphere?
shouldn't it be 1/4? q1 is 1/4 of q2 if i make kq1/r1=kq2/r2, where r1 is r2/4
The ultimate two conducting spheres of different sizes are the Sun and the Earth, God and man, of the same potential, but the former has a much greater radius. The total charge of the smaller sphere is recrued from the larger. Therefore the fraction is one and the same. The potential becomes the same as the charge.
Street
... i dont get what ur saying..
The electrons/charge will be distributed evenly over the surface area.
but why tho, shouldn't the smaller size get more charge?
The electrons repel each other equally.
Think of it as water pressure. Two lakes connected by a canal are going to equalize at the same level. Two balls connected by a conductor are going to equalize at the same electrical charge.