
Solution:
The problem involves two spherical conductors
and
connected by a copper wire. Let’s analyze and compute the equivalent capacitance of the system.
Given:
and
are concentric spherical conductors.
- Radii of the spheres:
(inner) and
(outer).
- The medium is air, so the permittivity is
.
Key Concepts:
- Potential Difference Between the Spheres: The two conductors are connected by a wire, meaning they are at the same potential. As a result, the electric field exists only between the two spheres.
- Capacitance of a Single Isolated Sphere: If only
existed as a spherical conductor, its capacitance would be:
- Why the System is Equivalent to an Isolated Sphere: Since
is connected to
via a conducting wire, any charge added to
immediately flows to
, making the system behave as if there is only one conductor of radius
.
Equivalent Capacitance:
Thus, the capacitance of the system is:
Final Answer:
The equivalent capacitance of the system is:
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