A glass sphere carrying a uniformly distributed charge of +Q is surrounded by an initially neutralspherical plastic shell. (Assume the charge +Q is uniformly distributed across thesurface of the glass sphere.)
Required:
a. Qualitatively, indicate the polarization of the plastic.
1. The plastic will polarize so as to have positive charge +Qon its inner surface and negativecharge −Q on its outer surface.
2. Dipoles in the plastic will polarize and orient themselves perpendicular to the radial electricfield due to the charge +Q.
3. Dipoles in the plastic will polarize and orient themselves radially, with their negativeends pointing toward the center.
4. Dipoles in the plastic will polarize and orient themselves radially, with their positiveendspointing toward the center.
b. Qualitatively, indicate the polarization of the inner glass sphere. Explain briefly.A net charge −Q from the dipoles will be uniformly distributed through the volume of the sphere.
1. There will be no polarization inside the glass sphere since the net electric field there iszero.
2. Dipoles in the glass will polarize and orient themselves perpendicular to the radial electricfield due to the charge +Q.
3. Dipoles in the glass will polarize and orient themselves radially, with their positive endspointing toward the center.
c. Is the electric field at location Poutside the plastic shell larger, smaller, or the same as itwould be if the plastic weren't there? Explain briefly.
1. Larger, because a net positive charge is created from the polarization of the shell.
2. Larger, because the positive charges displaced during polarization are closer to P than thenegative charges.
3. Smaller, because the negative charges displaced during polarization are closer to Pthanthe positive charges.
4. Smaller, because the plastic shell shields location Pfrom the charge +Q, such that the netfield at Pis zero.
5. The same, because no net charge is created from the polarization of the field.