- #1
Shreyas Shree
- 18
- 0
What determines the maximum potential to which the dome of a Van de Graaff generator can be raised?
on one hand i have the equation V=1/4πε q/r then there V∝1/r
whereas on the other hand the natural tendency for positive charge is to move higher to lower potential. Thus, provided we are somehow able to introduce the small charged sphere into the larger one, we can in this way pile up larger and larger amount of charge on the latter. The potential of the outer sphere would also keep rising, at least until it reaches the breakdown field of air.
on one hand i have the equation V=1/4πε q/r then there V∝1/r
whereas on the other hand the natural tendency for positive charge is to move higher to lower potential. Thus, provided we are somehow able to introduce the small charged sphere into the larger one, we can in this way pile up larger and larger amount of charge on the latter. The potential of the outer sphere would also keep rising, at least until it reaches the breakdown field of air.