A ball has uniform charge density rho = -5.60 times 10^-6 C/m^3 and radius R = 0

Question

A ball has uniform charge density rho = -5.60 times 10^-6 C/m^3 and radius R = 0.5 m. You are planning to measure the potential difference between the surface of the ball and a point "P" located 1.0 m radially outward from the surface, but first you decide to calculate the number that you expect to get. Will the potential at point P be higher or lower than at the ball's surface? How do you know? Find the potential difference between the surface of the ball and point P. Let's say you didn't know whether the ball had charge uniformly distributed throughout its volume, or all of the charge was just evenly spread out on the surface. By placing the leads of a voltmeter at different locations (but always outside of the ball), is there any measurement you could make to determine the answer to this question? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

a,) Potential at P will be higher

Potential = KQ/R { R>r}

Potential = 0 (R<r)

r is the radious of sphere

b.) potential at P = KQ/R

P = -9*10^9*5.6*10^-6 / 1 = -5.04*10^4 V

potential at its surface = 0

difference between the potential = 5.04*10^4 V

C.) yes we can find whether the charge is uniformly distributed or not because if the charge is uniformly distributed over surface than at same distance from the ball the potential will be same around the sphere or there will be equipotential surface but if the charge is not uniformly distributed then potential around the surface at same distance will not be equal.

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