Conductivity: The sphere is made of a metal that conducts electricity well and is positively charged.
Electric Field Lines: Electric field lines extend outwards from the sphere, indicating the direction a positive test charge would move.
Equations to Remember
Electric Field Strength: ( E = -\frac{\Delta V_e}{\Delta R} )
Electric Potential: ( V_e = \frac{kQ}{R} )
Electric Field and Potential Outside the Sphere
Behavior of Electric Field and Potential:
Both the electric field strength and electric potential decrease with increasing distance from the sphere, behaving as ( \frac{1}{R} ).
Electric Field and Potential Inside the Sphere
Charge Distribution: All charge resides on the outer surface of the sphere.
Electric Field Inside:
Since charges on the surface cancel out, the electric field strength inside the sphere is zero (E = 0).
Electric Potential Inside:
With ( E = 0 ) and no change in potential (( \Delta V_e = 0 )), it implies that the electric potential inside is constant.
This means no work is needed to move within the sphere's interior.
Summary of Graphs
Sketching Electric Field and Potential:
Inside the Sphere: Electric field is zero, electric potential is constant.
Outside the Sphere: Electric field and potential decrease following the ( \frac{1}{R} ) relationship, starting from a positive value down to zero as distance increases.