Electrostatics of Conductors

Define electrostatic potential at a point. Write its S.I. unit. Three-point charges q1, q2 and q3 are kept respectively at points A, B, and C as shown in the figure, Derive the expression for the electrostatic potential energy of the system.

A spherical conducting shell of inner radius r₁ and outer radius r₂ has a charge Q.

(a) A charge q is placed at the centre of the shell. What is the surface charge density on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell?

(b) Is the electric field inside a cavity (with no charge) zero, even if the shell is not spherical, but has any irregular shape? Explain.

(a) Show that the normal component of electrostatic field has a discontinuity from one side of a charged surface to another given by

`(vec"E"_2 - vec"E"_1).hat"n" = sigma/in_0`

Where `hat"n"` is a unit vector normal to the surface at a point and σ is the surface charge density at that point. (The direction of `hat"n"` is from side 1 to side 2.) Hence show that just outside a conductor, the electric field is σ `hat"n"/in_0`

(b) Show that the tangential component of electrostatic field is continuous from one side of a charged surface to another.

[Hint: For (a), use Gauss’s law. For, (b) use the fact that work done by electrostatic field on a closed loop is zero.]

A 4 µF capacitor is charged by a 200 V supply. It is then disconnected from the supply and is connected to another uncharged 2 µF capacitors. How much electrostatic energy of the first capacitor is lost in the form of heat and electromagnetic radiation?

A 12 pF capacitor is connected to a 50 V battery. How much electrostatic energy is stored in the capacitor? If another capacitor of 6 pF is connected in series with it with the same battery connected across the combination, find the charge stored and potential difference across each capacitor. 

A point charge is placed at the centre of a hollow conducting sphere of internal radius ‘r’ and outer radius ‘2r’. The ratio of the surface charge density of the inner surface to that of the outer surface will be ______.

Which of the following statement is true?

Consider a finite insulated, uncharged conductor placed near a finite positively charged conductor. The uncharged body must have a potential: