Practice question
Question
A spherical conductor of radius 5 cm has a charge of \( 5 \times 10^{-8} \, \text{C} \). What is the
potential at its surface? (Take \( \frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon_0} = 9 \times 10^9 \, \text{Nm}^2
\text{C}^{-2} \)).
Explanation
**Series combination** of capacitors has same charge Q on each because connected end-to-end, single path for charge flow, induced charges equal, total voltage V = Σ V_i = Q Σ 1/C_i, so 1/C_eq = Σ 1/C_i. Different potential differences V_i = Q/C_i inversely proportional to C_i, smaller C gets larger V. Potential at the surface: V = (1/4 π ε₀) (Q/R) . V = 9 × 10⁹ × (5 × 10⁻⁸/0.05) = 9 × 10⁹ × 10⁻⁶ = 9000 V . Using V = kQ/r, U = k q₁q₂/r, E = -dV/dr, C = ε₀A/d, 1/C_eq series, C_eq = ΣC parallel, U = ½ C
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