A thin spherical shell of radius R centred at the origin carries a uniform positive surface charge density. Which graph best represents the variation of the electric field magnitude |E(r)| and the potential V(r) with distance r from the centre? (Options refer to graph choices A-D.)

Question

Accepted Answer

(D). For a uniformly charged shell: for r < R, E = 0 and V = constant (= kQ/R); at r = R, E jumps to kQ/R²; for r > R, E = kQ/r² (decreasing) and V = kQ/r (continuous, decreasing). The correct graph shows E zero inside then a discontinuous jump and 1/r² decay outside, with V flat inside and 1/r outside. This is option (D).

A thin spherical shell of radius R centred at the origin carries a uniform positive surface charge density. Which graph best represents the variation of the electric field magnitude |E(r)| and the potential V(r) with distance r from the centre? (Options refer to graph choices A-D.)

Solution

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