Question

Consider a uniformly charged sphere of radius Rand total charge Q. The electric field Eout outsidethe sphere (r≥R) is simply that of a point charge Q. The electric field Ein inside the sphere (r≤R) is radially outward with field strength
Ein=1/4πϵ0(Q/R^3)r

The electric potential Vout outside the sphere is that of a point charge Q. Find an expression for the electric potential Vin at position r inside the sphere. As a reference, let Vin=Vout at the surface of the sphere.

What is the ratio Vcenter/Vsurface?

Graph V versus r for 0≤r≤3R.

Answer 1

1) Electric potential inside the sphere: $\frac{Q}{8\pi \epsilon_0 R}(3-\frac{r^2}{R^2})$

2) Ratio Vcenter/Vsurface: 3/2

3) Find graph in attachment

Explanation:

1)

The electric field inside the sphere is given by

$E=\frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}\frac{Qr}{R^3}$

where

$\epsilon_0=8.85\cdot 10^{-12}F/m$ is the vacuum permittivity

Q is the charge on the sphere

R is the radius of the sphere

r is the distance from the centre at which we compute the field

For a radial field,

$E(r)=-\frac{dV(r)}{dr}$

Therefore, we can find the potential at distance r by integrating the expression for the electric field. Calculating the difference between the potential at r and the potential at R,

$V(R)-V(r)=-\int\limits^R_r E(r)dr=-\frac{Q}{4\pi \epsilon_0 R^3}\int r dr = \frac{-Q}{8\pi \epsilon_0 R^3}(R^2-r^2)$

The potential at the surface, V(R), is that of a point charge, so

$V(R)=\frac{Q}{4\pi \epsilon_0 R}$

Therefore we can find the potential inside the sphere, V(r):

$V(r)=V(R)+\Delta V=\frac{Q}{4\pi \epsilon_0 R}+\frac{-Q}{8\pi \epsilon_0 R^3}(R^2-r^2)=\frac{Q}{8\pi \epsilon_0 R}(3-\frac{r^2}{R^2})$

2)

At the center,

r = 0

Therefore the potential at the center of the sphere is:

$V(r)=\frac{Q}{8\pi \epsilon_0 R}(3-\frac{r^2}{R^2})\\V(0)=\frac{3Q}{8\pi \epsilon_0 R}$

On the other hand, the potential at the surface is

$V(R)=\frac{Q}{4\pi \epsilon_0 R}$

Therefore, the ratio V(center)/V(surface) is:

$\frac{V(0)}{V(R)}=\frac{\frac{3Q}{8\pi \epsilon_0 R}}{\frac{Q}{4\pi \epsilon_0 R}}=\frac{3}{2}$

3)

The graph of V versus r can be found in attachment.

We observe the following:

- At r = 0, the value of the potential is $\frac{3}{2}V(R)$, as found in part b) (where $V(R)=\frac{Q}{4\pi \epsilon_0 R}$)

- Between r and R, the potential decreases as $-\frac{r^2}{R^2}$

- Then at r = R, the potential is $V(R)$

- Between r = R and r = 3R, the potential decreases as $\frac{1}{R}$, therefore when the distance is tripled (r=3R), the potential as decreased to 1/3 ($\frac{1}{3}V(R)$)

Learn more about electric fields and potential:

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