The electric field everywhere on the surface of a thin spherical shell of radius

Question

The electric field everywhere on the surface of a thin spherical shell of radius 0.780 m is measured to be equal to 860 N/C and points radially toward the center of the sphere.

(a) What is the net charge within the sphere's surface?
1 nC(b) What can you conclude about the nature and distribution of the charge inside the spherical shell?

The charge is positive and has an linear distribution. The charge is negative and has an linear distribution.     The charge is positive and has a spherically symmetric distribution. The charge is negative and has a spherically symmetric distribution.

Explanation / Answer

Radius r = 0.78 m, electric field E = 860 N / C

Electric field is, E = Kq / r ^ 2

hence, the charge is,

q = E r^2 / k = 860*0.78*0.78 /8.99 * 10 ^ 9 =  5.82 * 10 ^ -8 C

but the charge is negative, that is, -5.82 * 10 ^ -8 C

(b). electric field lines ends at negative charge or toward the negative charge.

given that the field is pointed toward the center of the sphere.

therefore, the charge is negative and has a spherically symmetric distribution.

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