A hollow conducting spherical shell has inner radius and outer radius
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Problem
A hollow conducting spherical shell has inner radius 2 cm and outer radius 3 cm. The shell is initially uncharged and rests on an insulating support in air. A small solid conducting sphere of radius 1 cm carrying a charge of +10nC is carefully placed at the exact center of the cavity without touching the shell. The inner sphere is then connected to the shell by a thin conducting wire. After equilibrium is reached, the wire is removed, and the system is allowed to return to electrostatic equilibrium.
Answer the following questions regarding charge distribution and electric fields.
(1) Determine the charge residing on the inner sphere and on the shell immediately after the wire has been connected but before it is removed.
(2) Once the wire is removed and the system reaches its final equilibrium, state how charge is distributed among (i) the inner sphere, (ii) the inner surface of the shell, and (iii) the outer surface of the shell.
(3) Calculate the magnitude of the electric field (a) within the conducting material of the shell, (b) anywhere inside the cavity between the inner sphere and the shell’s inner surface, and (c) at a point 10 cm from the common center.
(4) The inner sphere is now slowly moved off-center within the cavity while still not touching the shell. Predict whether any region inside the conducting material of the shell will develop a non-zero electric field during or after this displacement and justify your prediction.