Question

A smaller sphere has potential 50V and a larger sphere has potential 100V. How should they be placed so that if they are connected with the help of a wire, the charge will flow from the smaller sphere to the larger sphere? Both the spheres are conducting and hollow.

(a) Concentrically

(b) Touching each other

(c) It is never possible

(d) The smaller sphere should be grounded

This question was addressed to me in homework.

This is a very interesting question from Equipotential Surfaces topic in portion Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance of Physics – Class 12

Answer 1

The correct option is (a) Concentrically

Best explanation: We know that for a conducting sphere, the charge is always distributed on its outer surface. We also know that charge flows from higher potential to lower potential. But if we put the smaller sphere inside the larger sphere and connect them with a conductor, they will act as a single conductor and charge will be distributed to its outer surface, i.e. charge will flow to the larger sphere.