A Van de Graaff generator (see the figure) can develop a very large potential di

Question

AVan de Graaff generator(see the figure) can develop a very large potential difference, even millions of volts. Electrons are pulled off the belt by the high voltage pointed electrode at A, leaving the belt positively charged. (Recall Example 23-5 where we saw that near sharp points the electric field is high and ionization can occur.) The belt carries the positive charge up inside the spherical shell where electrons from the large conducting sphere are attracted over to the pointed conductor at B, leaving the outer surface of the conducting sphere positively charged. As more charge is brought up, the sphere reaches extremely high voltage. Consider a Van de Graaff generator with a sphere of radius0.30m.

Explanation / Answer

a) electric potential = Ed = 30*10^3*30 = 900000 V

b) charge on sphere = 4*pi*epsilon*r*900000 = 30 C

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