Connected conducting spheres at equilibrium · CAP 2005 #11

Physics · electromagnetism

Problem

Three charged conducting metal spheres, of radius R1R_1, R2R_2, and R3R_3, are connected together by wires. Let R1<R2<R3R_1 < R_2 < R_3. At equilibrium, which of the following sets of relations involving the electric field strength EE generated by a sphere, its potential VV, and its charge QQ, must hold between the spheres? (a) V1=V2=V3V_1 = V_2 = V_3, E1<E2<E3E_1 < E_2 < E_3, Q1<Q2<Q3Q_1 < Q_2 < Q_3; (b) V1=V2=V3V_1 = V_2 = V_3, E1>E2>E3E_1 > E_2 > E_3, Q1<Q2<Q3Q_1 < Q_2 < Q_3; (c) V1<V2<V3V_1 < V_2 < V_3, E1<E2<E3E_1 < E_2 < E_3, Q1=Q2=Q3Q_1 = Q_2 = Q_3; (d) V1>V2>V3V_1 > V_2 > V_3, E1<E2<E3E_1 < E_2 < E_3, Q1>Q2>Q3Q_1 > Q_2 > Q_3;

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