Suppose the distance between the spheres in Figure 31.18 is \(\ell\) and the potential difference between them is \(V_{12}\). What is the magnitude of the electric field inside the connecting rod?

Transcribed Image Text:

Figure 31.18 The source of the electric field in a current-carrying conductor. (For simplicity, we assume that the charge on each sphere is kept constant by an unseen power source.) (a) Electric field around a pair of charged spheres +E (b) Just after spheres are joined by conducting rod Electric field in rod is smallest in middle (at B). A B- Unequal electric field in rod causes charge to accumulate. (c) Steady state Accumulation continues until field is equal throughout rod. + E