There is a hollow,conducting,uncharged sphere with a negative charge inside the sphere.Consider the electrical potential at the inner and outer surfaces of the sphere.Which of the following is true?
A) The potential on the inner surface is greater.
B) The potential on the outer surface is greater.
C) The potentials on both surfaces are zero.
D) The potentials on both surfaces are equal but not zero.

Question

There is a hollow,conducting,uncharged sphere with a negative charge inside the sphere.Consider the electrical potential at the inner and outer surfaces of the sphere.Which of the following is true? 
A) The potential on the inner surface is greater. 
B) The potential on the outer surface is greater. 
C) The potentials on both surfaces are zero. 
D) The potentials on both surfaces are equal but not zero.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since the sphere is conducting, any excess charge will distribute uniformly on its surface. Therefore, the negative charge inside the sphere will be distributed uniformly on the inner surface of the sphere. As the surface is equipotential (i.e., the potential is the same at every point on the surface), the potential on the inner surface will be the same everywhere. Similarly, the potential on the outer surface will also be the same everywhere. However, since there is a negative charge inside the sphere, the potential on both surfaces will not be zero. The potential on the outer surface will be greater than the potential on the inner surface, as the potential decreases with distance from the negative charge inside. Hence, the correct option is D, i.e., the potentials on both surfaces are equal but not zero.

There Is a Hollow,conducting,uncharged Sphere with a Negative Charge Inside