FIGURE EX24.2 shows a cross section of two concentric spheres. The inner sphere has a negative charge. The outer sphere has a positive charge larger in magnitude than the charge on the inner sphere. Draw this figure on your paper, then draw electric field vectors showing the shape of the electric field.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Begin by drawing the figure on your paper. The image shows two concentric spheres: a smaller inner sphere and a larger outer sphere. Label the inner sphere as negatively charged and the outer sphere as positively charged with a larger magnitude.

Step 2: Recall that electric field lines originate from positive charges and terminate at negative charges. The electric field vectors will point radially outward from the positively charged outer sphere and radially inward toward the negatively charged inner sphere.

Step 3: Between the two spheres, draw electric field lines pointing from the outer sphere toward the inner sphere. These lines should be evenly spaced and symmetric to represent the uniform radial field in this region.

Step 4: Inside the inner sphere, there will be no electric field because the charge distribution is uniform and the electric field cancels out within a conductor. Draw no field lines inside the inner sphere.

Step 5: Outside the outer sphere, the electric field vectors will point radially outward, as the net charge of the system is positive (the positive charge on the outer sphere is larger in magnitude than the negative charge on the inner sphere). Ensure the field lines are symmetric and extend outward from the outer sphere.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Electric Field

An electric field is a region around a charged object where other charged objects experience a force. The direction of the electric field is defined as the direction a positive test charge would move. In the case of concentric spheres, the electric field lines radiate outward from the positively charged outer sphere and inward toward the negatively charged inner sphere.

Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law describes the force between two point charges. It states that the force is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law helps in understanding how the charges on the inner and outer spheres interact and influence the electric field configuration.

Superposition Principle

The superposition principle states that the total electric field created by multiple charges is the vector sum of the electric fields produced by each charge independently. In this scenario, the electric field due to the inner negatively charged sphere and the outer positively charged sphere can be analyzed separately and then combined to understand the overall electric field pattern.

Recommended video:

Guided course

03:32

Superposition of Sinusoidal Wave Functions

Related Practice

Textbook Question

The cube in FIGURE EX24.7 contains negative charge. The electric field is constant over each face of the cube. Does the missing electric field vector on the front face point in or out? What strength must this field exceed?

views

Textbook Question

The electric field is constant over each face of the tetrahedron shown in FIGURE EX24.4. Does the box contain positive charge, negative charge, or no charge? Explain.

views

Textbook Question

FIGURE EX24.1 shows two cross sections of two infinitely long coaxial cylinders. The inner cylinder has a positive charge, the outer cylinder has an equal negative charge. Draw this figure on your paper, then draw electric field vectors showing the shape of the electric field.

views

Textbook Question

FIGURE EX24.3 shows a cross section of two infinite parallel planes of charge. Draw this figure on your paper, then draw electric field vectors showing the shape of the electric field.

views