Mistake Master
Mistake Master · AP Physics C: E&M · Unit 10 · Step-Through Animation
Conductors Share a Voltage, Not a Charge
You'll learnhow charge really divides between connected conductors, and what a ground wire actually does.
A small charged sphere is wired to a big neutral one. Half each sounds fair. It is also impossible, and watching why teaches you what a wire actually does. Twelve short steps; press Next for each one.
a wire equalises voltage · the charge lands wherever that requires
Before you start
What you're looking at
Two metal spheres drawn at their true sizes. The number inside each is its charge; the number below is its voltage.
The question
Connect them with a wire: how does the charge divide, and what decides it?
Step 1 / 12