Question

A 0.500 cm diameter plastic sphere, used in a static electricity demonstration, has a uniformly distributed 40.0 pC charge on its surface. What is the potential near its surface?

Answer 1

The potential near the surface of the plastic sphere is 1436 V.

Step-by-step explanation:

The potential near the surface of the plastic sphere can be calculated using the formula for the electric potential due to a point charge. The potential at any point near the surface of the sphere is given by the equation V = kQ/r, where V is the potential, k is the Coulomb's constant (8.99 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2), Q is the charge on the sphere (40.0 pC = 40.0 x 10^-12 C), and r is the distance from the center of the sphere.

To calculate the potential near the surface, we need to determine the distance from the center of the sphere to the surface. The radius of the sphere is half of its diameter, so the radius is 0.500 cm / 2 = 0.250 cm = 0.00250 m. Finally, we can substitute these values into the equation to find the potential:

V = (8.99 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2) x (40.0 x 10^-12 C) / 0.00250 m = 1436 V.

Answer 2

We can find the potential using the equation

V = kQ/r

Where V is the potential, k corresponds to the Coulomb constant

k = 9. 10^9 N N. m^2/C^2 ,Q is the charge and r is the radius of the sphere (r = 2.5.10^-3 m)

Substituting in the equation we obtain

V = (9. 10^9 N N. m^2/C^2)*(40.10^-12 C)/(2.5.10^-3 m) =

V = 144 V (Potential near its surface)