Directions: Think about the answers to the following three questions. When you think that you know the correct answer, click on your choice. A pop-up box will appear telling you how you did!
If the potential function V is spherically symmetric (that is, the
potential depends only on the radial distance R from the center), what
would be the best coordinate system to use?
Cartesian
Spherical
Cylindrical
In the previous question, where V is spherically symmetric, the most convenient coordinate system to use is spherical because it gives the simplest expression for the potential. Suppose we have chosen, instead, a different coordinate system - for example, Cartesian. In this system, instead of V(r), we have
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If you have not yet examined the applications of what you just learned, you may wish to do so. Once you are done, continue on to a discussion of Parallel Plates.