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For a charged spherical ball the electrostatic potential inside the ball varies with r as V=2ar²+b, where a and b are constants and r is the distance from the centre. The volume charge density inside the ball is -λ aε. The value of λ is ______. Here ε is the permittivity of the medium.

Asked in JEE Main 29th Jan 2nd Shift 2023 · Relation between field and potential

Answer: 12

Step-by-step solution

The radial field follows from E=-(dV)/(dr)=-d/(dr)(2ar²+b)=-4ar.

Apply Gauss's law to a sphere of radius r: E·4π r²=(q_enc)/ε, so q_enc=ε(-4ar)(4π r²)=-16π aε r³.

The enclosed volume is 4/3π r³, so ρ=(q_enc)/(4/3π r³)=(-16π aε r³)/(4/3π r³)=-12aε.

The density is uniform, and comparing with ρ=-λ aε gives λ=12.

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