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Electrostatics question

2011 · Shift 1 · Q57
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Electrostatics question

2011 · Shift 1 · Q57

JEE AdvancedPhysicsElectrostaticsMultiple correct+4 / −1
A spherical metal shell A of radius RA{R_A}RA​ and a solid metal sphere BBB of radius RB(<RA){R_B}\left( { \lt {R_A}} \right)RB​(<RA​) are kept far apart and each is given charge ′+Q′.' + Q'.′+Q′. Now they are connected by a thin metal wire. Then
  1. A
    EAinside=0E_A^{inside} = 0EAinside​=0
  2. B
    QA>QB{Q_A} \gt {Q_B}QA​>QB​
  3. C
    σAσB=RBRA{{{\sigma _A}} \over {{\sigma _B}}} = {{{R_B}} \over {{R_A}}}σB​σA​​=RA​RB​​
  4. D
    EAon  surface< EBon  surfaceE_A^{on\,\,surface} \lt \,E_B^{on\,\,surface}EAonsurface​<EBonsurface​
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: A, B, C, D

The problem asks to analyze the properties of two spherical conductors, a shell A and a solid sphere B, after they are connected by a thin metal wire. Let the final charges on them be QAQ_AQA​ and QBQ_BQB​, and their radii be RAR_ARA​ and RBR_BRB​ respectively, with the given condition RA>RBR_A > R_BRA​>RB​. The initial charge on each was +Q+Q+Q, so the total charge of the system is 2Q2Q2Q, which is conserved. Thus, QA+QB=2QQ_A + Q_B = 2QQA​+QB​=2Q.

When the two conductors are connected by a wire, charge flows between them until they reach the same electrostatic potential. Let this common potential be VVV.

For a spherical conductor of radius RRR and charge qqq, the potential on its surface is given by V=14πϵ0qRV = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\frac{q}{R}V=4πϵ0​1​Rq​. Since the potentials of A and B are equal: VA=VBV_A = V_BVA​=VB​ 14πϵ0QARA=14πϵ0QBRB\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\frac{Q_A}{R_A} = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\frac{Q_B}{R_B}4πϵ0​1​RA​QA​​=4πϵ0​1​RB​QB​​ QARA=QBRB  ⟹  QAQB=RARB\frac{Q_A}{R_A} = \frac{Q_B}{R_B} \implies \frac{Q_A}{Q_B} = \frac{R_A}{R_B}RA​QA​​=RB​QB​​⟹QB​QA​​=RB​RA​​

Now, let's evaluate each option based on this result.

Option A: EAinside=0E_A^{inside} = 0EAinside​=0

  1. Sphere A is a metallic (conducting) shell.
  2. A fundamental property of conductors in electrostatic equilibrium is that the electric field inside the conductor is zero. This applies to both the material of the shell and the hollow region (cavity) inside it, as there are no charges placed within the cavity.
  3. Therefore, EAinside=0E_A^{inside} = 0EAinside​=0. This statement is correct.

Option B: QA>QB{Q_A} > {Q_B}QA​>QB​

  1. From our potential equalization condition, we derived the relationship between the final charges: QAQB=RARB\frac{Q_A}{Q_B} = \frac{R_A}{R_B}QB​QA​​=RB​RA​​
  2. The problem states that RA>RBR_A > R_BRA​>RB​.
  3. This implies that the ratio RARB>1\frac{R_A}{R_B} > 1RB​RA​​>1.
  4. Therefore, QAQB>1\frac{Q_A}{Q_B} > 1QB​QA​​>1, which means QA>QBQ_A > Q_BQA​>QB​. The larger sphere holds more charge.
  5. This statement is correct.

Option C: σAσB=RBRA{{{\sigma _A}} \over {{\sigma _B}}} = {{{R_B}} \over {{R_A}}}σB​σA​​=RA​RB​​

  1. The surface charge density (σ\sigmaσ) is defined as charge per unit area. For a sphere of radius RRR, the surface area is 4πR24\pi R^24πR2.
  2. For sphere A: σA=QA4πRA2\sigma_A = \frac{Q_A}{4\pi R_A^2}σA​=4πRA2​QA​​
  3. For sphere B: σB=QB4πRB2\sigma_B = \frac{Q_B}{4\pi R_B^2}σB​=4πRB2​QB​​
  4. Let's find the ratio of the surface charge densities: σAσB=QA/(4πRA2)QB/(4πRB2)=QAQB⋅RB2RA2\frac{\sigma_A}{\sigma_B} = \frac{Q_A / (4\pi R_A^2)}{Q_B / (4\pi R_B^2)} = \frac{Q_A}{Q_B} \cdot \frac{R_B^2}{R_A^2}σB​σA​​=QB​/(4πRB2​)QA​/(4πRA2​)​=QB​QA​​⋅RA2​RB2​​
  5. We already know that QAQB=RARB\frac{Q_A}{Q_B} = \frac{R_A}{R_B}QB​QA​​=RB​RA​​. Substituting this into the equation: σAσB=(RARB)⋅(RB2RA2)=RBRA\frac{\sigma_A}{\sigma_B} = \left(\frac{R_A}{R_B}\right) \cdot \left(\frac{R_B^2}{R_A^2}\right) = \frac{R_B}{R_A}σB​σA​​=(RB​RA​​)⋅(RA2​RB2​​)=RA​RB​​
  6. This statement is correct.

Option D: EAon surface< EBon surfaceE_A^{on\,surface} < \,E_B^{on\,surface}EAonsurface​<EBonsurface​

  1. The electric field at the surface of a charged conducting sphere is given by E=σϵ0E = \frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}E=ϵ0​σ​.
  2. So, EA=σAϵ0E_A = \frac{\sigma_A}{\epsilon_0}EA​=ϵ0​σA​​ and EB=σBϵ0E_B = \frac{\sigma_B}{\epsilon_0}EB​=ϵ0​σB​​.
  3. The ratio of the electric fields is: EAEB=σA/ϵ0σB/ϵ0=σAσB\frac{E_A}{E_B} = \frac{\sigma_A / \epsilon_0}{\sigma_B / \epsilon_0} = \frac{\sigma_A}{\sigma_B}EB​EA​​=σB​/ϵ0​σA​/ϵ0​​=σB​σA​​
  4. From our analysis of Option C, we know σAσB=RBRA\frac{\sigma_A}{\sigma_B} = \frac{R_B}{R_A}σB​σA​​=RA​RB​​.
  5. Therefore, EAEB=RBRA\frac{E_A}{E_B} = \frac{R_B}{R_A}EB​EA​​=RA​RB​​.
  6. Since it is given that RB<RAR_B < R_ARB​<RA​, the ratio RBRA<1\frac{R_B}{R_A} < 1RA​RB​​<1.
  7. This means EAEB<1\frac{E_A}{E_B} < 1EB​EA​​<1, which implies EAon surface<EBon surfaceE_A^{on\,surface} < E_B^{on\,surface}EAonsurface​<EBonsurface​. The electric field is stronger on the surface of the smaller sphere.
  8. Alternatively, we know the common potential is VVV. The electric field on the surface can also be expressed as E=VRE = \frac{V}{R}E=RV​. Thus, EA=VRAE_A = \frac{V}{R_A}EA​=RA​V​ and EB=VRBE_B = \frac{V}{R_B}EB​=RB​V​. Since RA>RBR_A > R_BRA​>RB​, it follows that EA<EBE_A < E_BEA​<EB​.
  9. This statement is correct.

Since all four options A, B, C, and D are correct, this is a multiple correct question where all options are valid.

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