Electric Field at Radius r from Concentric Conducting Spherical Shells?

In summary, the question is about finding the electric field at a certain radius from the center of two conducting spherical shells with different radii and opposite charges. It is noted that there is no electric field at a distance greater than the larger radius due to the total charge within a Gaussian surface being 0. Confirmation was given.
  • #1
Chronos000
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Homework Statement



The question I'm struggling with is to find the electric field at radius r from the centre of two conducting spherical shells of radius a and b (b>a), and with charge +Q and -Q.

Specifically I am not sure if there is no electric field at r>b as if you use gauss' law, the total charge within the gaussian surface is 0.
 
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  • #2
Chronos000 said:
Specifically I am not sure if there is no electric field at r>b as if you use gauss' law, the total charge within the gaussian surface is 0.

This is correct. The total enclosed charge is 0, so the flux through any Gaussian surface with r>b will be 0.
 
  • #3
thanks for confirming
 

FAQ: Electric Field at Radius r from Concentric Conducting Spherical Shells?

What is an electric field?

An electric field is a physical field that surrounds electrically charged particles and exerts a force on other charged particles within the field. It is a fundamental concept in physics and is used to explain the behavior of electrically charged objects.

What are concentric shells?

Concentric shells are a set of spherical surfaces with the same center point, similar to the layers of an onion. In relation to electric fields, they refer to a configuration of charged particles where they are arranged in spherical shells with the same center point.

How is an electric field created between concentric shells?

An electric field is created between concentric shells when there is a difference in charge between the shells. This creates an imbalance of electric charges, resulting in an electric field between the shells.

What is the direction of the electric field between concentric shells?

The direction of the electric field between concentric shells is always radial, meaning it points directly away from the center of the shells. This is because the electric field is created by the difference in charge between the shells, which is concentrated at the center point.

How does the strength of the electric field between concentric shells change?

The strength of the electric field between concentric shells decreases as the distance from the center increases. This is due to the inverse square law, which states that the strength of an electric field is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of the field.

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