A small sphere of radius r 1 and charge q 1 is enclosed by a spherical shell of radius r 2 and charge q 2 . Show that if q 1 is positive, charge will necessarily flow from the sphere to the shell (when the two are connected by a wire) no matter what the charge q 2 on the shell is.

Question

Philoid · Accepted Answer

According to Gauss’s law, the electric field between a sphere and a shell is determined by the charge on the smaller sphere.

∴ The potential difference (V) between the sphere and the shell depends on q₁ and is independent of charge q₂.

∵ q₁ is positive so V is positive which implies charge will necessarily flow from the sphere to the shell.

A small sphere of radius r1 and charge q1 is enclosed by a spherical shell of radius r2 and charge q2. Show that if q1 is positive, charge will necessarily flow from the sphere to the shell (when the two are connected by a wire) no matter what the charge q2 on the shell is.

A small sphere of radius r₁ and charge q₁ is enclosed by a spherical shell of radius r₂ and charge q₂. Show that if q₁ is positive, charge will necessarily flow from the sphere to the shell (when the two are connected by a wire) no matter what the charge q₂ on the shell is.