Two conducting spheres, A and B, are made of the same material and have radii r and 2r. The spheres are placed a distance d 3r from each other. The first sphere has an initial charge Q, while the second is uncharged. The spheres are initially connected by a thin conducting wire; the wire is then removed. When electrostatic equilibrium has been reached, the electrostatic potentials of the two spheres are related by

Question

Two conducting spheres, A and B, are made of the same material and have radii r and 2r. The spheres are placed a distance d > 3r from each other. The first sphere has an initial charge Q, while the second is uncharged. The spheres are initially connected by a thin conducting wire; the wire is then removed. When electrostatic equilibrium has been reached, the electrostatic potentials of the two spheres are related by

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When two conductors are connected by a conducting wire, charge will flow between them until they reach the same electric potential. This is because the electric potential (voltage) must be continuous across a conductor. Therefore, when spheres A and B reach electrostatic equilibrium, their potentials are equal.

Two Conducting Spheres, a and B, Are Made of the Same