Ask Physics Expert

A total charge of Q is deposited on a solid metal sphere of radius R. This charge distributes itself uniformly over the surface, yielding an electrostatic field E~ perpendicular =(sigma / e0) n^ just outside the sphere and E~ = 0 everywhere inside the sphere, where  sigma = Q=4 pie R^2 and ^n is the outward pointing unit normal vector. Consider a small patch of surface area dA. We wish to calculate the electrostatic pressure P on this patch due to all the other surface charge. This pressure equals the electrostatic force per unit area, P = (dq)E=dA = sigma E where E is the electrostatic field acting on the patch due to all the other charges. But what value of E do we use? (The total fi eld is zero just inside the surface, but jumps to a nonzero value just outside the surface.) This problem addresses that question. a) Consider the small patch alone. What are the fi elds ~E ~patch that the patch produces just outside and just inside the sphere? (Write these fi elds as vectors involving  sigma and ^n.) Hint: If you are in finitesimally close to the patch, even this small patch will look like an inf inite sheet of charge. b) According to the superposition principle, the total field just outside the surface must equal a contribution from the patch itself plus a contribution ~E ~other from all the other charge. What is ~E~other just outside the surface? (Again, write the result in terms of  sigma and ^n.) c) In a similar manner, use the superposition principle to calculate the fi eld ~E~other just inside the surface. d) Is ~E~other continuous in both magnitude and direction as you move through the surface? e) What is the electrostatic pressure P on the patch due to all the other charges, in terms of  sigma and e0? f) The largest E- fields that can be produced at the surface of a conductor are approximately 250 X 10^6 N/C. Beyond this value the metal breaks down due to fi eld emission. How much charge would have to be deposited on a sphere of copper 1 cm in radius to produce a field of this magnitude? What would the resulting electrostatic pressure be, in both N/m^2 and atmospheres? (1 atmosphere =101,325 N/m^2.)

Physics, Academics

  • Category:- Physics
  • Reference No.:- M9374034

Have any Question?


Related Questions in Physics

Question oppositely charged parallel plates are separated

Question: Oppositely charged parallel plates are separated by 5.31 mm. A potential difference of 600 V exists between the plates. (a) What is the magnitude of the electric field between the plates? N/C (b) What is the ma ...

Question an object of mass m attached to a spring of force

Question: An object of mass m attached to a spring of force constant k oscillates with simple harmonic motion. The maximum displacement from equilibrium is A and the total mechanical energy of the system is E. What is th ...

Quesion when a nucleus of 235u undergoes fission it breaks

Quesion: When a nucleus of 235U undergoes fission, it breaks into two smaller, more tightly bound fragments. Part A: Calculate the binding energy per nucleon for 235U. Express your answer with the appropriate units. E=__ ...

Question a nylon rope used by mountaineers elongates 130 m

Question: A nylon rope used by mountaineers elongates 1.30 m under the weight of a 65.0-kg climber. If the rope is 45.0 m in length and 7.0 mm in diameter, what is Young's modulus for this material? The response must be ...

Question an object is 30 cm in front of a converging lens

Question: An object is 30 cm in front of a converging lens with a focal length of 10 cm. Use ray tracing to determine the location of the image. What are the image characteristics: (i) upright or inverted, (ii) magnifica ...

Question an object of mass m is traveling on a horizontal

Question: An object of mass m is traveling on a horizontal surface. There is a coefficient of kinetic friction µ between the object and the surface. The object has speed v when it reaches x=0 and encounters a spring. Th ...

Question in one of the classic nuclear physics experiments

Question: In one of the classic nuclear physics experiments at the beginning of the 20th century, an alpha particle was accelerated towards a gold nucleus and its path was substantially deflected by the Coulomb interacti ...

Question an object of mass m is dropped from height h above

Question: An object of mass m is dropped from height h above a planet of mass M and radius R. Find an expression for the object's speed as it hits the ground. Express your answer in terms of the variables m,M,h,R and app ...

Question one type of bb gun uses a spring-driven plunger to

Question: One type of BB gun uses a spring-driven plunger to blow the BB from its barrel. (a) Calculate the force constant of its plunger's spring if you must compress it 0.130 m to drive the 0.0580-kg plunger to a top s ...

Question an object is placed 30 cm to the left of a

Question: An object is placed 30 cm to the left of a converging lens that has a focal length of 15cm. Describe what the resulting image look like (i.e. image distance, magnification, upright or inverted images, real or v ...

  • 4,153,160 Questions Asked
  • 13,132 Experts
  • 2,558,936 Questions Answered

Ask Experts for help!!

Looking for Assignment Help?

Start excelling in your Courses, Get help with Assignment

Write us your full requirement for evaluation and you will receive response within 20 minutes turnaround time.

Ask Now Help with Problems, Get a Best Answer

Why might a bank avoid the use of interest rate swaps even

Why might a bank avoid the use of interest rate swaps, even when the institution is exposed to significant interest rate

Describe the difference between zero coupon bonds and

Describe the difference between zero coupon bonds and coupon bonds. Under what conditions will a coupon bond sell at a p

Compute the present value of an annuity of 880 per year

Compute the present value of an annuity of $ 880 per year for 16 years, given a discount rate of 6 percent per annum. As

Compute the present value of an 1150 payment made in ten

Compute the present value of an $1,150 payment made in ten years when the discount rate is 12 percent. (Do not round int

Compute the present value of an annuity of 699 per year

Compute the present value of an annuity of $ 699 per year for 19 years, given a discount rate of 6 percent per annum. As