Suppose that a metal file cabinet is charged. How will the charge concentration at the corners of the cabinet?


Princess Consuela Banana Hammock , Wednesday, 11th of August 2010 07:37:34 PM

compare with the charge concentration on the flat parts of the cabinet? 
Princess Consuela Banana Hammock
Defend your answer.
 
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magical lifE........... , Thursday, 12th of August 2010 04:51:52 AM

The pointy places like the corners will have more charge  
magical lifE...........
concentrated there because the electric field will be higher at the  
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points. This is how a lightning rod functions, concentrating the charge  
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& intensifying the electric field.  
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The metal surface is at equal potential. Remember the potential near a  
spherical surface is proportional to 1/r. The electric field is  
proportional to the derivative of the potential, or is proportional to  
1/r^2. If the radius of curvature is small, ie pointy surface, then the  
electric field is high.  
 
 
 
 
 



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