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The Charged Sphere

Part of the Electricity and Magnetism section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 14 of 51.

On a metal sphere the charge sits on the outer surface. Outside, the sphere acts like a point charge at its centre:

E = k Q / r² (r ≥ R)

V = k Q / r (r ≥ R)

Inside there is no field, so the potential is the same everywhere, the surface's:

E = 0, V = k Q / R (r < R)

The field of a charged sphere

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Challenge

A metal sphere of radius 0.1 m carries 5 nC. What is the potential V at its centre?

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