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hasan_researc
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A sphere of radius r contains a charge Q distributed uniformly throughout its volume. Charge dQ is brought in from infinity and deposited uniformly over the surface. The potential energy of the charge dQ is [tex]Q dQ/4\pi\epsilon0[/tex].
This follows naturally from the result for the potential of 2 point charges after noting
(a) E due to Q is the same as a point charge and
(b) smearing dQ around the sphere (i.e., tangential to the radial direction) doesn’t change the energy.
Why/how does "smearing dQ around the sphere (i.e., tangential to the radial direction) not change the energy"?
Thanks in advance for any help!
[N B : I am a first year physics undergraduate.]
This follows naturally from the result for the potential of 2 point charges after noting
(a) E due to Q is the same as a point charge and
(b) smearing dQ around the sphere (i.e., tangential to the radial direction) doesn’t change the energy.
Why/how does "smearing dQ around the sphere (i.e., tangential to the radial direction) not change the energy"?
Thanks in advance for any help!
[N B : I am a first year physics undergraduate.]