## anonymous 3 years ago Three concentric spherical shells have radii a, b and c(a<b<c) and have surface charge densities σ, -σ and σ respectively. If Va, Vb and Vc denote the potentials of the three shells, then for c=a+b we have (1)Vc=Va≠Vb (2)Vc=Vb≠Va (3)Vc≠Vb≠Va (4)Vc=Vb=Va

1. anonymous

I think it's 3 but I can't seem to explain why.. It's a matter of reasoning going from the basis that the potentials are dependent on both radius and surface charge. Looking at the information given, there seems to be no way that any of the potentials could ever be equal to one of the others without disregarding one of the equations.

2. anonymous

The answer in book is 1 but it can be a misprint as well though a small solution is also given in the book. Still it is beyond my understanding. I am giving the solution as given in book........$Va=\frac{ 1 }{ 4\pi \epsilon _{o} }\frac{ \sigma4\pi a ^{2} }{ a }-\frac{ 1 }{ 4\pi \epsilon _{o} }\frac{ \sigma4\pi b ^{2} }{ b }+\frac{ 1 }{ 4\pi \epsilon _{o} }\frac{ \sigma4\pi c ^{2} }{ c }$ $V _{b}=\frac{ 1 }{ 4\pi \epsilon _{o} }\frac{ \sigma4\pi a ^{2} }{ a }-\frac{ 1 }{ 4\pi \epsilon _{o} }\frac{ \sigma4\pi b ^{2} }{ b }+-\frac{ 1 }{ 4\pi \epsilon _{o} }\frac{ \sigma4\pi c ^{2} }{ c }$ $V _{c}=\frac{ 1 }{ 4\pi \epsilon _{o} }\frac{ \sigma4\pi a ^{2} }{ a }-\frac{ 1 }{ 4\pi \epsilon _{o} }\frac{ \sigma4\pi b ^{2} }{ b }+\frac{ 1 }{ 4\pi \epsilon _{o} }\frac{ \sigma4\pi c ^{2} }{ c }$ Hence Va=Vb≠Vc

3. anonymous

for c=a+b $$V_a=\frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}( \frac{4\pi a^2 \sigma }{a}-\frac{4\pi b^2 \sigma }{b}+\frac{4\pi c^2 \sigma }{c})=\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}(a-b+c)=\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}(2a)$$ $$V_b=\frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}( \frac{4\pi a^2 \sigma }{b}-\frac{4\pi b^2 \sigma }{b}+\frac{4\pi c^2 \sigma }{c})=\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}(\frac{a^2}{b}-b+c)=\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}(\frac{a^2 +ab}{b})$$ $$V_c=\frac{1}{4\pi \epsilon_0}( \frac{4\pi a^2 \sigma }{c}-\frac{4\pi b^2 \sigma }{c}+\frac{4\pi c^2 \sigma }{c})=\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}(\frac{a^2-b^2}{a+b}+a+b)=\frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}(2a)$$ thus answer is (1) do you need further help?

4. anonymous

note that the potential outside the charged sphere is $$V=\frac{r_0^2 \sigma}{\epsilon_0 R}$$ but inside the sphere it's$$V=\frac{r_0 \sigma}{\epsilon_0 }$$