Question

A uniformly charged conducting sphere of 1.1 m diameter has a surface charge density of 6.2 µC/m2. (a) Find the net charge on the sphere. (b) What is the total electric flux leaving the surface of the sphere?

Answer 1

Answer:

(a) q = 2.357 x 10⁻⁵ C

(b) Φ = 2.66 x 10⁶ N.m²/C

Explanation:

Given;

diameter of the sphere, d = 1.1 m

radius of the sphere, r = 1.1 / 2 = 0.55 m

surface charge density, σ = 6.2 µC/m²

(a)  Net charge on the sphere

q = 4πr²σ

where;

4πr² is surface area of the sphere

q is the net charge on the sphere

σ is the surface charge density

q = 4π(0.55)²(6.2 x 10⁻⁶)

q = 2.357 x 10⁻⁵ C

(b) the total electric flux leaving the surface of the sphere

Φ = q / ε

where;

Φ is the total electric flux leaving the surface of the sphere

ε is the permittivity of free space

Φ = (2.357 x 10⁻⁵) / (8.85 x 10⁻¹²)

Φ = 2.66 x 10⁶ N.m²/C