Space vehicles travelling through the Earth’s radiation belts collide with trapped electrons. Since in space there is no ground, the resulting charge build-up can become significant and can damage electronic components, leading to control circuit upsets and operational anomalies. A spherical metallic satellite 1.3 m in diameter accumulates of charge in one orbital revolution. We have to find (a) the surface charge density; (b) the resulting electric field just outside the surface of the satellite.

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It is given that a spherical metallic satellite of 1.3 m in diameter accumulates of charge in one orbital revolution. Surface area of the satellite is

It is also given that in each orbital revolution the satellite accumulates of charge.

Therefore, the surface charge density on the satellite (after one orbital revolution)

The electric field just outside the surface of the satellite, which is a conductor as it is made out of metallic material,