Question

A research Van de Graaff generator has a 2.10 m diameter metal sphere with a charge of 1.06 mC on it. (a) What is the electric potential on the surface of the sphere

Answer 1

Answer:

9.09 × 10⁶  volts

Explanation:

Given:

Diameter, d = 2.10 m

              ⇒  $radius, r = \frac{d}{2}$  

                   $radius, r = \frac{2.10}{2}\\r = 1.05 \ m$

Charge, q = 1.06 mC = 1.06 × 10⁻³ C

Electric potential is the amount of work done in moving a unit charge from a reference point to a specific point inside electric field without producing an acceleration.

                      $V = k\frac{q}{r} \ volts$  

where

V is the electric potential in volt

k is the coulomb's constant 9 × 10⁹ Nm²/C²

q is the unit charge in Coulomb

r is radius of the sphere give in meter

                          ∴  $V = 9 * 10^{9} \ \frac{1.06 * 10^{-3}}{1.05} \ volts$

                               V = 9.085 × 10⁶  volts

                               V = 9.09 × 10⁶  volts