Question 251: Electrostatics & Capacitance

Question

Two charged conducting spheres of radii $$a$$ and $$b$$ are connected to each other by a conducting wire. The ratio of charges of the two spheres respectively is:

Accepted Answer

When two conducting spheres of radii $$a$$ and $$b$$ are connected by a conducting wire, they come to the same potential because conductors in contact share charges until their potentials become equal. The potential of a charged sphere is given by $$V = \frac{kQ}{R}$$, where $$V$$ is the potential, $$k$$ is Coulomb's constant, $$Q$$ is the charge on the sphere, and $$R$$ is the radius of the sphere.
For the two spheres at the same potential, we have:
$$\frac{kQ_a}{a} = \frac{kQ_b}{b}$$
Where:
$$Q_a$$ and $$Q_b$$ are the charges on the spheres with radii $$a$$ and $$b$$, respectively.
$$k$$ cancels out from both sides as it is a constant.
From the above equation, to find the ratio of charges $$\frac{Q_a}{Q_b}$$, we rearrange it as follows:
$$\frac{Q_a}{Q_b} = \frac{a}{b}$$
Therefore, the ratio of the charges of the two spheres respectively is $$\frac{a}{b}$$.
So, the correct answer is Option C: $$\frac{a}{b}$$.

Answer

$$a b$$

Answer

$$\frac{b}{a}$$

Answer

$$\frac{a}{b}$$

Answer

$$\sqrt{a b}$$

Electrostatics & Capacitance

Two charged conducting spheres of radii $a and b$ are connected to each other by a conducting wire. The ratio of charges of the two spheres respectively is:

Choose the correct answer: