PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Electric Charges and Fields · Electric Charges and Fields
Problem
Two solid spheres, each of radius 4.0 cm, are placed on an insulating stand and isolated from their surroundings.
• Sphere P is molded from a plastic material in which charge may be distributed throughout the volume.
• Sphere M is molded from a metal.
Each sphere is given the same total charge of +6.0 nC. A small positive test charge is located on the line joining the centers of the spheres at a distance 12 cm from the center of the sphere under investigation.
(a) Calculate the magnitude of the electric field produced by sphere P at the test-charge location.
(b) Calculate the magnitude of the electric field produced by sphere M at an identical test-charge location (12 cm from its center).
(c) Explain any similarity or difference between the two field magnitudes, making explicit reference to how the charge is distributed in each sphere and how that distribution affects the external field.