Final answer:
In Physics, the electric potential of a hollow metal sphere is determined by the charge and the radius of the sphere. Using the formula V = kQ/r, where k is Coulomb's constant, the electric potential can be calculated for various scenarios, including charged spheres and shells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the concept of electric potential in Physics, specifically related to charged spheres and the effect of placing charge on or near these objects. In electrostatics, the electric potential at a point is the electric potential energy per unit charge at that point, taken with respect to some reference point, often at infinity where the potential is defined to be zero.
When a hollow metal sphere is charged, the electric potential of the sphere becomes uniform over its surface due to the distribution of charges. This is because charges repel each other and will move to the surface to be as far away from each other as possible in the case of a conductor. The potential V of a sphere with charge Q and radius r can be calculated using the formula V = kQ/r, where k is Coulomb's constant (approximately 8.99 x 10^9 N*m^2/C^2).
For instance, in the case of a metallic sphere of radius 2.0 cm charged with +5.0-μC, the potential on the sphere's surface can be computed using the mentioned formula. Similarly, other configurations such as a charged pith ball at the center of a spherical shell or a charged Van de Graaff generator can have their respective potentials calculated using principles of electrostatics.